ISSN:
1573-0689
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Physics
Notes:
Abstract The expected diffusion phase of a drop of india ink layered on water is interrupted by the appearance of straight 0.5-mm-diameter filaments of carbon particles when two experimental conditions are imposed. First, the water is derived from ice melted near a lead mass and, second, the ink suspension is inserted into space surrounding a cylindrical vessel of chipped ice containing calcium chloride. Equilibrium between the phases, respectively diffuse and filamentary can be disturbed by placing objects in this space to the left-hand side of the ice-containing vessel. When a thin film of oil-on-water is so placed the filament disappears within 15 s. Its disappearance is prevented by the solution of a prostaglandin in the same oil. Reasons are discussed for viewing the observations as indirectly derived from a coherent air flow surrounding the ice-calcium mixture, a coherence induced in turn in its contained gas molecules by a force described by Casimir. The observations can then be seen as macroscopic quantal in nature.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01873068
