Liquid phase processing of ceramics, glass, semiconductors, and oxide superconductors provides a route to producing useful forms of these materials which is often blocked by reaction with containers. This research explores a novel containerless processing method for these materials. Heterogeneous nucleation at container surfaces would be eliminated to enable synthesis of amorphous materials and improve control of single crystal growth. The containerless processing method uses relatively large aerodynamic forces and smaller acoustic positioning forces to achieve stable levitation of radiantly heated liquids. Stable acoustic levitation of low density liquids such as water, as well as aerodynamic levitation of dense solids, are well developed methods. Application of the proposed hybrid technique to dense solid materials has also been demonstrated in preliminary experiments under conditions for which aerodynamic levitation is not, by itself, stable. The proposed Phase I research develops to maintain levitation stability during melting, demonstrates operation with selected ceramic materials (e.g., aluminum oxide, oxide superconductors, fluoride glasses), and determines the designs and operating procedures for Phase II processing and materials property research.***//
