Time Lag in Nucleation

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Abstract
A definition for the time lag L in the Zeldovich modified Becker‐Döring theory of nucleation is introduced which is in accord with the commonly used definition of L in diffusion theory. This L can be obtained exactly without solving for the transient concentration of embryos of the new phase. L is found to be the time required to set up the steady‐state distribution of embryos from a given initial distribution by means of the steady‐state flux of embryos. The numerical evaluation of L from various initial distributions, for at least vapor‐liquid transition, exhibits the importance of the homophase fluctuations in the initial embryo distribution in allowing us to observe the transition within the experimental observation time. The implications of this result for the general theory of phase transitions and for ``memory'' effects in nucleation are discussed.

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