Heterogeneous nucleation of bubbles by molecular dynamics

Abstract

A homogeneous liquid system and a heterogeneous system with an impurity inserted inside it were used for investigation of bubble nucleation by molecular dynamics simulation. A constant particle number, volume, and temperature ensemble was used. The systems with the impurities showed an overall increase in bubble formation, which is consistent with previous studies. The shape of the impurities was changed to see if there was any direct influence on the bubble nucleation rate. With the limited number of systems investigated, the occurrence of a shape effect was inconclusive. As observed in previous heterogeneous nucleation studies with walls, the bubble initially forms remotely from the impurity and remains at some distance from the seed.