MOLECULAR-DYNAMICS SIMULATIONS OF DROPLET EVAPORATION

The complete evaporation of a three-dimensional submicron droplet unde r subcritical conditions has been modeled using molecular dynamics. Th e two-phase system consisted of 2048 argon atoms modeled using a Lenna rd-Jones 12-6 potential distributed between a single droplet and its s urrounding vapor. The system was first allowed to relax to equilibrium , then the droplet was evaporated by increasing the temperature of the vapor phase atoms at the boundaries of the system until only the vapo r phase remained. The computed evaporation rate agrees with that predi cted by the Knudsen aerosol theory.