In Situ Observation of KB5 Crystal Growth Under Purely Diffusion Gel Systems by Holographic Interferometry

KB5O8.4H2O (KB5) crystals have been grown in an agar-agar gel by temperature decrease method for simulating crystal growth in space. Nucleation and growth have been followed by interferometric holography. A concentration field surrounding the growing crystals was obtained and a Liesegang ring was observed. The pattern are visualized directly to reveal physical phenomena of purely diffusion crystal growth kinetics.