Self-Diffusion Coefficient of the Melt of Semiconducting Crystalline Germanium under the Microgravity due to the Launch of the fifth TR-IA Rocket

Abstract

The self-diffusion coefficient of liquid germanium, which shows the semiconducting properties in the solid crystalline state, was measured by the long capilary method under the microgravity due to the launch of the fifth TR-IA rocket. The obtained self-diffusion coefficient, 0.84 X 10- 4 cm2s- 1 at 1273 K, is 20% smaller than the previous data on the ground. The present self-diffusion coefficient and its temperature dependence are far larger than the cases of simple liquid metals. From the point of view of hard sphere model, it is concluded that these features are derived from the loose packing of liquid structure.