Densities of Si determined by an image digitizing technique in combination with an electrostatic levitator

Abstract

We have determined the densities of Si in the liquid, rhol(T), and solid, rhos(T), states as a function of temperature, T, by employing an image digitizing technique and numerical calculation methods in combination with an electrostatic levitator. The obtained density data can be fitted with the following equations: rhol(T) = rhol(Tm) – 1.71 × 10^–4(T – Tm) – 1.61 × 10^–7(T – Tm)2(g/cm^3); rhos(T) = rhos(Tm) – 2.63 × 10^–5(T – Tm)(g/cm^3),where Tm is the melting point, 1687 K, and rhol(Tm) and rhos(Tm) are 2.580 and 2.311 (g/cm^3), respectively. The error involved in the determination is estimated to be ±0.006 (g/cm3). The rhol(T) value smoothly varies through Tm and does not indicate a reported anomalous density variation. The rhol(Tm) value is 2% larger than the literature value and the coefficient of the linear temperature dependence is approximately half of a reported value. The rhos(Tm) value closely agrees with the literature value.