Effects of g-jitters on solid-liquid interfacial free energy at low gravity

A domain model on gravity dependence of solid-liquid interfacial free energy, sigma (SL), in face centered cubic metals is presented. Low sigma (SL) values of the order 1 x 10(-7) J/m(2) in an orbiting space vehicle with gravity 9.8x10(-6)m(2)/sec are obtained; in presence of gravitational accelerations (g-jitters) with magnitudes between 10(-4) and 10(-2) m/sec(2) sigma (SL) values, instead, increase of two orders of magnitude. The results are discussed taking into account the generation of elastic waves by g-jitters which exert forces on the interfacial domains increasing the pressure at the solid-liquid interface.