Thermally Activated Dynamics of the Capillary Condensation

Abstract

This paper is devoted to the thermally activated dynamics of the capillary condensation. We present a simple model which enables us to identify the critical nucleus involved in the transition mechanism. This simple model is then applied to calculate the nucleation barrier from which we can obtain informations on the nucleation time. We present a simple estimation of the nucleation barrier in slab geometry both in the two dimensional case and in the three dimensional case. We extend the model in the case of rough surfaces which is closer to the experimental case and allows comparison with experimental datas.

6 pages, 3 figures, Submitted to J. Phys. : Condens. Matter, Proceedings of the IV Liquid Matter Conference - Grenada(Spain) july 1999