Sedimentation of isotope atoms in monatomic liquid Se

A strong gravitational field resulted in the sedimentation of isotope atoms in monatomic liquid. The concentration ratio Se82∕Se76 increased by greater than 3.5% in specimen ultracentrifuged at (0.7–0.9)×106G and at 300°C. The recovered sample had a feather-shaped crystalline morphology. The concentration gradient was nearly twice that of the steady state analytical result (ideal gas system), indicating a nonideal system diffusion. The present result is evidence of sedimentation of substitutional atoms in condensed matter via self-diffusion and suggestes its possible application to isotope separation, crystalline control, and matter dynamics in massive star.