Observations of mass transport phenomena in multicomponent liquid mixtures

Examples of surface tension effects on liquid behavior are common, such as liquid rising in a capillary tube or the beading of rain drops on a freshly waxed car. Usually through, the surface tension forces are small compared to other forces such as gravity. Situations exist, however, where the simple statement attributed to Marangoni can explain striking and unexpected observations. ''If for any reason difference of surface tension exist along a free liquid surface, liquid will flow toward the region of higher surface tension''. Such flows are called Marangoni flows. Observations of isotopic hydrogen fuel mixtures in cryogenic Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) targets can be explained on the basis of Marangoni flows. Additional experiments at KMS with common room temperature mixtures have produced similar results