Phase transformations of a condensate on a crystal surface in a strong electric field

Abstract

The evolution of the phase state of the water vapor condensate of the silver iodide crystal surface in an applied electric field up to 10 V/nm is studied by computer simulation. The previously found domain structure of the contact layer is stable against the external field and remains up to the complete break of the molecular film. In a strong electric field, the film condensation mode is changed by the formation of a new phase consisting of molecular nanothreads growing in the direction of the electric field lines. The transition to the new state is sharp. The presence of a phase transition is likely analogous to that accompanying the transformation of water microdrops to the superpolarized state under the action of an external electric field at stratospheric temperatures.