On the theory of solidification of a supercooled liquid. I: Thermodynamics of Solid Clusters

Abstract

The solution of the problem on solidification of a liquid, taking into account the heterophase fluctuations and competing formation and growth of crystalline and noncrystalline nuclei, requires a description of the thermodynamic properties of noncrystalline nuclei. In this paper we describe the statistical and thermodynamic properties of noncrystalline nuclei, taking into account the diversity of their structural states. The density of structural states is introduced and an expression obtained for the free energy of a noncrystalline nucleus, which is valid in the limit of a large number of atoms in a nucleus. The ergodicity violation is taken into consideration.

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DOI

10.1063/10.0033643

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