2006 Volume 39 Issue 6 Pages 616-622
The effects of the direction of the vertical and horizontal magnetic fields on L-alanine crystal growth were investigated. It was found that the direction of the magnetic fields (either vertical or horizontal for gravity) changed the morphology of L-alanine crystals. The growth of (011) and (120) faces of L-alanine crystal at 5 T in a vertical or horizontal magnetic field was relatively inhibited compared with those at 0 T. On the other hand, in a horizontal magnetic field, when the direction of the c-axis of the seed crystal was set vertically to that of both magnetic and gravitational fields, the growth of (011) and (120) faces of L-alanine crystal was relatively promoted at 5 T compared with those at 0 T. We considered that the difference in the growth environment was caused by magnetic orientation of the crystals and buoyancy-driven convection.
