open access

https://hdl.handle.net/2115/52317

In-situ observation of elementary steps and quasi-liquid layers on ice crystal surfaces by advanced optical microscopy

日本語

2013-03-31

Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University

Low Temperature Science

71

1-13

Due to the abundance of ice on earth, the phase transition of ice plays crucially important roles in various phenomena in nature. Hence, the molecular-level understanding of ice crystal surfaces holds the key to revealing various phenomena,although so far there has been no means for molecular-level observation. Hence, we tried to improve a laser confocal microscope combined with a differential interference contrast microscope (LCM-DIM), which was developed by us and Olympus Engineering Co., Ltd. Then we succeeded in directly visualizing elementary steps (the growing ends of ubiquitous molecular layers with the minimum height)of ice crystals and their dynamic behavior at air-ice interfaces. We could also directly visualize surface melting processes of ice crystals at temperatures below the melting point (0℃). Then we found that two types of surface-liquid phases (quasi-liquid layers)appear that exhibit different morphologies and dynamics. Such novel insights into the nature of surface-liquid phases may play a crucially important role in understanding a variety of phenomena in which surface-liquid phases play a vital role.

紀要論文

Version of Record

1880-7593