The positive thermal gradient is one of the most important parameters during directional solidification. The increase of the thermal gradient usually stabilizes the planar interface in the steady state analysis. However, in the initial transient range of planar instability, the thermal gradient presents complicated effects. Time-dependent analysis shows that the increase of the thermal gradient can enhance both the stabilizing effects and the destabilizing effects on a planar interface. The incubation time first decreases and then increases with the increase of the thermal gradient. Moreover, the initial average wavelength always increases with the thermal gradient increasing, contrary to the effect of the thermal gradient on the steady cellular/dendritic spacing. This reveals the types of spacing adjustment after planar instability.
