THEORY OF THE KINETIC CRITICAL NUCLEUS IN BINARY-SYSTEMS

We extend the theory of kinetic critical nucleus [K. Nishioka and I. L . Maksimov, J. Cryst. Growth 163, 1 (1996)] to binary systems for vapo r-liquid transition and derive the equations to determine its size and composition. The kinetic critical nucleus corresponds to the extreme point (or saddle point) on the surface of the kinetic potential. By em ploying an available formula for the reversible work of forming a clus ter, it is shown that the composition of the kinetic critical nucleus is the same as that of the thermodynamic one and the equation to deter mine the size of the kinetic critical nucleus has the same features as those for single-component systems. Similar to single-component syste ms, there are two values for the size of the kinetic critical nucleus. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.