Quantitative Modeling of Growth of Colloid Nuclei*

We have formulated a model that allows for obtaining quantitative results describing growth of colloid nuclei.  The model includes the information regarding the equation of state resulting from molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and provides the route for extraction of the kinetic prefactor that is challenging to obtain via experiments or MD simulations. Our elaborate model combined with extensive and accurate simulations allows one to compare the findings to both micro-g experiments carried out on ISS, and Earth based ones.  As an outcome, we conclude that particle scale properties are not responsible for the observed differences between the experiments carried out under different gravitational field strengths, but instead that collective effects may be relevant.  Therefore, our results suggest directions for future research, in particular those regarding formulation of even more complete models describing growth of colloid nuclei.