Comparison of Bragg and SALS studies of crystallization in suspensions of hard spheres

Abstract

Crystallization in nearly identical suspensions of hard spheres has been studied independently by small angle light scattering and by Bragg scattering. The results of those two measurement techniques are brought together here. Qualitatively different behavior is observed in different time domains. The reduced time and crystal size agrees for the different measurement techniques when compared at the boundary between the time domains. As a result the reduced nucleation rate density also correlates between the two techniques. Below the melting volume fraction a comparison of the characteristic length scale with either the small angle intensity or the Bragg crystal fraction indicates a constant nucleation rate density. Above the melting volume fraction an argument is given for accelerated nucleation. The theoretical classical nucleation rate varies more rapidy with volume fraction between melting and freezing than is observed experimentally.