Homogeneous nucleation of droplets from supersaturated vapor in a closed system.

Abstract

Kinetic equations describing homogeneous nucleation kinetics within standard model are solved numerically under the condition of a constant number of molecules in the considered system. It has consequences to decrease the supersaturation of the supersaturated vapor during the process of the formation of small droplets of a new phase. The decrease of supersaturation occurs in a short time and reaches some value which remains unchanged for a relatively long time (quasistationary regime), especially at lower initial supersaturations. This time interval decreases with increasing value of the initial supersaturation. In the quasistationary regime the nucleation rate reaches its stationary value. At higher initial supersaturation, the rate of formation of nuclei goes to some maximum value corresponding to the stationary nucleation rate and then decreases with time due to the decrease of supersaturation.