We have formulated a nucleation model that can simulate nucleation of solid
s in supercooled liquid in a manner that is consistent with the stochastic
nature and kinetic aspect of the phenomenon. This is accomplished, even und
er highly transient and nonuniform thermal conditions, by (1) calculating t
he probability of nucleation in each and every liquid node during each time
step using the Poisson expression, and (2) triggering nucleation if and on
ly when the random number assigned to a node for the time step is less than
the calculated nucleation probability. In contrast with previous models, n
o empirical or deterministic conditions for nucleation are imposed. We demo
nstrate the effectiveness of the model by analyzing nucleation-initiated so
lidification as encountered in pulsed laser-induced irradiation of thin Si
films, and discuss the generality and utility of the model. (C) 2001 Americ
an Institute of Physics.