Hydrodynamic Model of the Condensation of a Vapor near Its Critical Point

Abstract

A hydrodynamic model is used to describe the condensation of a supersaturated vapor near its critical point. Calculations are based on a statistical theory of nucleation previously developed by one of the authors (J.S.L.). The method permits careful study of various statistical corrections and a quantitative treatment of the thermal nonaccommodation effect. Although the theory developed here is based on assumptions which are quite different from the classical Becker-Döring theory, numerical predictions of the critical supersaturation in Xe and C${\mathrm{O}}_2$ turn out to be very nearly the same as the classical results.