Generalized theory of nucleation kinetics. IV. Nucleation as diffusion in the space of cluster dimensions, positions, orientations, and internal structure

Abstract

The theory of nucleation has been extended to cover phase transitions involving complex, asymmetric, and anisotropic clusters in external potential fields. The theory, considering a flux of clusters in the space of cluster dimensions, orientations, positions, and variables describing internal structure, predicts several new effects. Nucleation-production of clusters capable of spontaneous growth-can result not only from the growth of subcritical clusters (embryos), as assumed in the classical, one-dimensional theory, but also from translational, or rotational diffusion of subcritical clusters in an external field. © 1986 American Institute of Physics.