Concentration of Clusters in Nucleation and the Classical Phase Integral

Abstract

A classical phase integral treatment of the equilibrium concentration of clusters in homogeneous nucleation from the vapor is discussed. It is concluded that the motions of a stationary cluster, i.e., a cluster in a bulk liquid, are more nearly those of translational and torsional vibration than free translation and rotation in a large free volume. In this case one returns to the original Lothe‐Pound equation. Accordingly, the 1017 factor of correction to classical homogeneous nucleation theory in condensation still remains.