The formation of aligned spheres in miscibility gap systems

The development of regularly sized and spaced rods or spheres in a monotectic system is presently considered in terms of interface breakdown and capillary instability mechanisms between two liquid phases. The most important relationship, which governs the rod-to-aligned spheres transition, is the temperature gradient-to-growth rate ratio that determines the depth of the intercellular nodes. Rods will develop when these nodes are shallow by comparison to rod circumference, and spheres will develop when they are deep.