30 research outputs found
Homogeneous nucleation of a non-critical phase near a continuous phase transition
Homogeneous nucleation of a new phase near a second, continuous, transition,
is considered. The continuous transition is in the metastable region associated
with the first-order phase transition, one of whose coexisting phases is
nucleating. Mean-field calculations show that as the continuous transition is
approached, the size of the nucleus varies as the response function of the
order parameter of the continuous transition. This response function diverges
at the continuous transition, as does the temperature derivative of the free
energy barrier to nucleation. This rapid drop of the barrier as the continuous
transition is approached means that the continuous transition acts to reduce
the barrier to nucleation at the first-order transition. This may be useful in
the crystallisation of globular proteins.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figur