Application of a Scaled Homogeneous Nucleation-Rate Formalism to Experimental Data at T≪T_c

Author

Barbara N. Hale, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyFollow

Abstract

It is pointed out that for temperatures T<0.5T_c, where T_c is the critical temperature, the classical steady-state nucleation-rate formalism of Becker and Doring predicts an approximate critical supersaturation ratio S_cr (for the onset of nucleation) given by lnS_cr/Ω^3/2~0.53(T_c/T-1)^3/2. Ω is a material-dependent quantity approximately equal to the excess surface entropy per molecule. For most substances Ω ~ 2.0 and for associated liquids Ω ~ 1.5.The experimental data (for nucleation from vapor to liquid) from diffusion chamber and nozzle beam studies are found to be consistent with the above expression. The classical theory also predicts that for a supersaturation ratio S corresponding to constant J, lnS/lnS_cr-1 ~ lnJ/2lnJ_c, where lnJ_c is a quantity evaluated at the critical point and is ~ 72 for most materials. Expansion cloud-chamber data for nonane, toluene, and water are also found to be consistent with these approximate scaling laws.

Recommended Citation

B. N. Hale, "Application of a Scaled Homogeneous Nucleation-Rate Formalism to Experimental Data at T≪T_c," Physical Review A, vol. 33, no. 6, pp. 4156 - 4163, American Physical Society (APS), Jun 1986.

The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.33.4156

Department(s)

Physics

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

1050-2947

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Final Version

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 1986 American Physical Society (APS), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jun 1986