Using Image Processing Techniques for Cluster Analysis, and Droplet Formation in Phase Separating Fluids

A series of experiments were performed using the Alice II apparatus in microgravity to study phase separation near critical temperature. Using image analysis techniques, we were able to obtain quantitative~information regarding the morphology of gas-liquid interface near~critical point of pure SF6 fluid in microgravity. Growth laws for liquid and gas clusters were extracted based on image segmentation~both with thresholding and k-means clustering. By measuring the image~features we analyzed the formation of spherical droplets during late~stage of phase separation for a series of full view images. The growth~of a wetting layer around the border of the cell containing the fluid was also investigated using image processing techniques.