Nucleation Phenomena Interpreted by Fluctuation/Dissipation Theory

Nicholas F Borrelli,Joseph F Schroeder

doi:10.11648/j.ajmp.20211003.12

Abstract

An argument is presented in the attempt to link the nucleation phenomenon to a broader interpretation and manifestations termed “Fluctuation and Dissipation theory”. The connection is made that the nucleation phenomenon can be thought of as being developed from “noise” which in the case of glass and crystals is spontaneous as the composition fluctuates. In many ways it will be shown it to have phenomenological similarities to turbulence and the Liesegang phenomenon, and perhaps even to some extent, evolution [1] which all having sudden threshold-like behaviors. In this paper an argument will be made of the common features of these three phenomena by comparing the mathematical equations describing the three phenomena and indicating that they inherently contain the terms that give rise to instability and how this can explained with recourse to fluctuation/dissipation theory.

Highlights

An argument is presented in the attempt to link the nucleation phenomenon to a broader interpretation and manifestations termed “Fluctuation and Dissipation theory”
In other systems elements such as fluorine or even noble metals [7] are used but one must be careful to distinguish between phase separation as opposed to nucleation as mechanism unto itself even though the former could lead to crystallization; that is to distinguish from the view that all nucleation derives from some sort of initial phase separation no matter how small or non-detectable it may be
An attempt will be made to cast the nucleation phenomenon in a different way that is in terms of what is known in Physics as ‘fluctuation and dissipation theory”

Summary

Nucleation

Nucleation is a phenomenon in solids where a new phase is produced from the otherwise homogeneous system using a thermal development schedule This is conventionally broken down into two separate and sequential steps - the first termed “nucleation” and the other is called “growth”. Schroeder: Nucleation Phenomena Interpreted by Fluctuation/Dissipation Theory is, interesting to point out that there is a theory of the origin of life called “random statistical fluctuations [1] in contrast to Darwin’s “natural selection” What this pertains to is the initial formation of RNA (nucleic acids) responsible for replication of cells forming from the pond of the prebiotic earth by a statistical fluctuation. Of interest, is that Einstein in his explanation of Brownian motion made note of the fluctuation concept

Turbulence

Liesegang Effect

Theoretical Considerations

Fluctuation and Dissipation

Conclusions