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Updated: Jun 21, 2026
06:26
Orientational Transition in a Liquid Crystal Triggered by the Thermodynamic Growth of Interfacial Wetting Sheets
Published on: May 15, 2017
Non-Markovian dynamics of clusters during nucleation
1Institute for Theoretical Physics, Utrecht University, 3584 CE, Utrecht, The Netherlands. jkuipers@phys.uu.nl
Summary
Homogeneous nucleation theories often assume memoryless cluster dynamics, but this study reveals these models are incomplete. We demonstrate that non-Markovian dynamics significantly impact cluster behavior during nucleation processes.
Area of Science:
- Physical Chemistry
- Statistical Mechanics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Homogeneous nucleation theories commonly employ Fokker-Planck-like models.
- These models often assume Markovian (memoryless) dynamics for cluster mass evolution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the limitations of Markovian assumptions in homogeneous nucleation theories.
- To characterize non-Markovian dynamics in nucleating systems.
- To understand the influence of non-Markovian effects on cluster dynamics during nucleation.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical analysis of non-Markovian dynamics.
- Simulations using a three-dimensional Ising model.
- Incorporation of locally conserved magnetization in simulations.
Main Results:
- Identified significant deviations from Markovian behavior in certain nucleating systems.
- Characterized the nature of these non-Markovian cluster dynamics.
- Demonstrated the impact of non-Markovian effects on nucleation pathways and rates.
Conclusions:
- Standard Fokker-Planck-like nucleation theories are incomplete for systems exhibiting non-Markovian dynamics.
- Accurate modeling of nucleation requires accounting for memory effects in cluster evolution.
- Simulations validate the importance of non-Markovian dynamics in nucleation phenomena.
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