Dresden 2009 – scientific programme

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DY: Fachverband Dynamik und Statistische Physik

DY 12: Poster I

DY 12.22: Poster

Tuesday, March 24, 2009, 14:30–16:30, P1A

Molecular dynamics simulation of Ostwald ripening — •Thomas Kraska — Institut für Physikalische Chemie, Universtät zu Köln

Ostwald ripening is a process taking place in the late stages of a phase transition after the system has already a low or vanishing supersaturation. Small particles dissolve or evaporate due to their high solubility or high vapour pressure while the large particles grow. The particle size distribution caused by ripening has been modelled by various theories while there are few atomistic or molecular simulations of single ripening processes. Here molecular dynamics simulations of liquid argon droplets in the saturated vapour phase are performed [1] because evaporation and condensation of droplets as well as the diffusion in the vapour phase are fast processes. It allows monitoring ripening in a time frame of 100 nanoseconds simulation time. Although the examined system models a gas-liquid transition one finds many analogies with experimental results of solid-liquid ripening processes such as for the water system being important for the stability of ice cream.

[1] T. Kraska, J. Phys. Chem. B. 112, 12408 (2008)