Crystal nucleation in the one-component plasma

Journal Article · Mon May 15 04:00:00 EDT 2006 · Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVE.73.056407· OSTI ID:21069780

Daligault, Jerome ^[1]

---

1. Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (United States)

We have performed molecular dynamics simulations to study the kinetics of crystal nucleation in the one-component plasma. We have monitored nucleation in the supercooled liquid phase by following the time evolution of the size distribution of crystal nuclei formed during the phase transition. Although several observations are consistent with classical nucleation theory such as transient effects and the existence of a free-energy barrier to crystallization, we could not unambiguously identify a critical size for the crystal nuclei formed within the metastable phase.

• OSTI ID: 21069780
• Journal Information: Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics, Journal Name: Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 73; ISSN PLEEE8; ISSN 1063-651X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
CRITICAL SIZE
CRYSTALLIZATION
CRYSTALS
DISTRIBUTION
FREE ENERGY
LIQUIDS
MOLECULAR DYNAMICS METHOD
NUCLEATION
PLASMA