About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Materials Research in Reduced Gravity
|
| Presentation Title |
Determining the Critical Marangoni Number in a Germanium Float-Zone under Microgravity |
| Author(s) |
Felix Schaar, Selim Borham, Tobias Ebeling, Akos Cantwell, Gregorio Boccaccini, Issam Ayache, Mark Gonzi, Philipp Reiß |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Selim Borham |
| Abstract Scope |
Space-based semiconductor crystal growth offers the potential for ultra-high purity materials. However, significant challenges remain. While microgravity substantially weakens gravity-driven convection, Marangoni convection persists, negatively impacting crystal quality through impurity segregation and non-uniform growth.
The Germanium sub-Orbital Optical Semiconductor Experiment (GOOSE), which will fly aboard the Swedish-German sounding rocket REXUS 36, seeks to measure Marangoni convection and its effects on crystal purity, in order to inform strategies for its mitigation. The experiment utilizes a self-designed optical mirror furnace and autonomous controller. It will be the first experiment to measure the critical Marangoni number for Germanium under microgravity conditions.
GOOSE's results serve as a necessary basis for further, more complex experimentation with second- and third-generation semiconductor alloys, which have significant potential to disrupt the semiconductor industry but are very sensitive to convection during production. The paper discusses the setup, methods, results and conclusions of the experiment. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Characterization, Electronic Materials, Process Technology |