Time-Dependent Nucleation Rate

Abstract

This paper deals with a method of describing the asymptotic behaviour of the Fokker-Planck equation. The nucleation rate, J(t), approaches a steady state as J(t)=J_s[1-exp (-t/t_lag)] with 1/(6.3 a(l_c) Z²) ≥ t_lag ≥ 1/(12.0 a(l_c) Z²), where J_s is the steady state nucleation rate, Z is the Zeldvitch factor and a(l_c) the rate at which monomers are absorbed by a cluster with critical size l_c. This result agrees with the numerical calculation by Kanne-Dannetschek and Stauffe and the prevoius theory.