The physics of thermal diffusion — mass diffusion driven by a temperature gradient — is poorly understood. One obstacle has been that the Soret coefficient (ST, which describes the steady-state result of thermal diffusion) is sensitive to many factors. It is now shown that the difference in ST between isotopes of diffusing elements that are network modifiers is independent of composition and temperature. The findings suggest a theoretical approach for describing thermal diffusion in silicate melts and other complex solutions.
- F. Huang
- P. Chakraborty
- C. E. Lesher