On the Becker/Döring theory of nucleation of liquid droplets in solids (Q2494502)

The paper deals with the Becker-Döring model [\textit{R. Becker} and \textit{W. Döring}, Ann. Phys. (5) 24, 719--752 (1935; Zbl 0013.14002)] for the nucleation rate for liquid droplets in vapour in a stationary process. Motivated by industrial application, this model is once more considered here, and one shows that it exhibits discrepancies with respect to thermodynamics. More especially the equilibriums as achieved contradict the equilibriums resulting from thermodynamic considerations. So here the authors once more consider the model, but now they introduce the free energy of the system which is based on the Clausius version of the second law of thermodynamics, and they use it as Lyapunov function. They deal in details with the free energy for single droplet systems on the one hand, and for many droplet systems on the other hand. The equilibrium positions and distributions are determined, and all these results are compared with those of Becker/Döring.