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Updated: Jul 19, 2026
14:27
A Cell-Free Assay Using Xenopus laevis Embryo Extracts to Study Mechanisms of Nuclear Size Regulation
Published on: August 8, 2016
Size distribution of nuclei in a closed system
Z Kozísek1, P Demo, A M Sveshnikov
1Institute of Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Cukrovarnická 10, 162 53 Praha 6, Czech Republic. zozisek@fzu.cz
The Journal of Chemical Physics
|September 27, 2006
Summary
Numerical solutions reveal how nuclei size distribution evolves during phase transitions. Vapor depletion causes a temporary peak in nucleus size, which fades as supersaturation drops near one.
Area of Science:
- Physical Chemistry
- Thermodynamics
- Computational Physics
Background:
- Phase transitions involve the formation of new thermodynamic phases.
- Nucleation is the initial step in phase transitions, critical for material properties.
- Understanding nucleation kinetics in closed systems is essential for predicting material formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To numerically solve kinetic equations for nucleation in a closed system.
- To analyze the evolution of nucleus size distribution over time.
- To investigate the impact of vapor depletion on nucleation dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Numerical solution of kinetic equations governing nucleation.
- Modeling of vapor phase depletion during phase transition.
- Analysis of nucleus size distribution at various time points.
Main Results:
- The study determined the time-dependent size distribution of nuclei.
- Vapor depletion was accounted for, influencing the phase transition process.
- A transient maximum in nucleus size distribution was observed, linked to decreasing vapor supersaturation.
- This maximum disappeared at later stages as supersaturation approached unity.
Conclusions:
- The numerical model accurately describes nucleation kinetics in closed systems.
- Vapor depletion significantly affects the evolution of nucleus size distribution.
- The observed transient maximum provides insight into the dynamic nature of nucleation.
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