Influence of surface tension on the stability of heterogeneous equilibrium of barotropic liquid phases (Q798151)

On the basis of the results of earlier work of the author [Fluid. Dyn. 17, 236-242 (1982; Zbl 0494.76106)] a study is made of the equilibrium and stability of a two-phase single-component heterogeneous liquid system with respect to perturbations of arbitrary shape. Allowance is made for the influence of surface tension, which plays a critical part in the formation of nucleating centers of a new phase [\textit{M. A. Leontovich,} Introduction to thermodynamics (1953)]. Conditions of equilibrium are derived, and also a criterion of radial stability of a nucleating center of a new phase bounded by a closed spherical boundary. It is shown that radial stability of spherical nucleating centers also guarantees stability with respect to perturbations of arbitrary shape. The part played by the finite size of the system and the boundary conditions is elucidated.