Temperature dependence of nucleation rate of spherical liquid drops and vapor bubbles

Abstract

The temperature dependence of the nucleation rate of liquid drops and vapor bubbles of the Yukawa model fluid is studied using non-local density functional theory. In this model, the integral equation which determines the density profile and the work of formation of nuclei can be transformed into a simple differential equation and can be numerically solved exactly. Systematic comparison can be made with the predictions from the classical nucleation theory due to Volmer and others. The resultant temperature dependence and deviation from the classical prediction for liquid drops is comparable with the observed discrepancies between the experimental results and the classical predictions.