HOMOGENEOUS NUCLEATION PROCESS - ANALYTICAL APPROACH

Homogeneous nucleation under isothermal conditions is modeled at the k inetic level. A Fokker-Planck-like equation with nonlinear coefficient s that describes this process is solved analytically by a method based on boundary-layer theory combined with the Green's-function technique . Computing the fundamental solution (propagator) of the suitably tran sformed governing equation, the distribution function of newly forming clusters is obtained in approximate form. Via this quantity, other im portant characteristics-such as nucleation rate, integrated flux, or t ime lag-of the nucleation are determined. It is shown that our results are in much better agreement with purely numerical simulations and ex perimental data than other previous analytical approaches.