The Becker-Döring equations with monomer input, competition and inhibition

We investigate the Becker-Döring model of nucleation with three generalisations; an input of monomer, an input of inhibitor and finally, we allow the monomers to form two morphologies of cluster. We assume size-independent aggregation and fragmentation rates. Initially we consider the problem of co...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Bolton, Colin D., Wattis, Jonathan A.D.
Format: Article
Published: IOP 2004
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/941/
_version_ 1848790507797348352
author Bolton, Colin D.
Wattis, Jonathan A.D.
author_facet Bolton, Colin D.
Wattis, Jonathan A.D.
author_sort Bolton, Colin D.
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description We investigate the Becker-Döring model of nucleation with three generalisations; an input of monomer, an input of inhibitor and finally, we allow the monomers to form two morphologies of cluster. We assume size-independent aggregation and fragmentation rates. Initially we consider the problem of constant monomer input and determine the steady-state solution approached in the large-time limit, and the manner in which it is approached. Secondly, in addition to a constant input of monomer we allow a constant input of inhibitor, which prevents clusters growing any larger and this removes them from the kinetics of the process; the inhibitor is consumed in the action of poisoning a cluster. We determine a critical ratio of poison to monomer input below which the cluster concentrations tend to a non-zero steady-state solution and the poison concentration tends to a finite value. Above the critical input ratio, the concentrations of all cluster sizes tend to zero and the poison concentration grows without limit. In both cases the solution in the large-time limit is determined. Finally we consider a model where monomers form two morphologies, but the inhibitor only acts on one morphology. Four cases are identified, depending on the relative poison to monomer input rates and the relative thermodynamic stability. In each case we determine the final cluster distribution and poison concentration. We find that poisoning the less stable cluster type can have a significant impact on the structure of the more stable cluster distribution; a counter-intuitive result. All results are shown to agree with numerical simulation.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T18:13:43Z
format Article
id nottingham-941
institution University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-14T18:13:43Z
publishDate 2004
publisher IOP
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling nottingham-9412020-05-04T20:31:21Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/941/ The Becker-Döring equations with monomer input, competition and inhibition Bolton, Colin D. Wattis, Jonathan A.D. We investigate the Becker-Döring model of nucleation with three generalisations; an input of monomer, an input of inhibitor and finally, we allow the monomers to form two morphologies of cluster. We assume size-independent aggregation and fragmentation rates. Initially we consider the problem of constant monomer input and determine the steady-state solution approached in the large-time limit, and the manner in which it is approached. Secondly, in addition to a constant input of monomer we allow a constant input of inhibitor, which prevents clusters growing any larger and this removes them from the kinetics of the process; the inhibitor is consumed in the action of poisoning a cluster. We determine a critical ratio of poison to monomer input below which the cluster concentrations tend to a non-zero steady-state solution and the poison concentration tends to a finite value. Above the critical input ratio, the concentrations of all cluster sizes tend to zero and the poison concentration grows without limit. In both cases the solution in the large-time limit is determined. Finally we consider a model where monomers form two morphologies, but the inhibitor only acts on one morphology. Four cases are identified, depending on the relative poison to monomer input rates and the relative thermodynamic stability. In each case we determine the final cluster distribution and poison concentration. We find that poisoning the less stable cluster type can have a significant impact on the structure of the more stable cluster distribution; a counter-intuitive result. All results are shown to agree with numerical simulation. IOP 2004 Article PeerReviewed Bolton, Colin D. and Wattis, Jonathan A.D. (2004) The Becker-Döring equations with monomer input, competition and inhibition. Journal of Physics. A, Mathematical and General, 37, . pp. 1971-1986. ISSN 0305-4470
spellingShingle Bolton, Colin D.
Wattis, Jonathan A.D.
The Becker-Döring equations with monomer input, competition and inhibition
title The Becker-Döring equations with monomer input, competition and inhibition
title_full The Becker-Döring equations with monomer input, competition and inhibition
title_fullStr The Becker-Döring equations with monomer input, competition and inhibition
title_full_unstemmed The Becker-Döring equations with monomer input, competition and inhibition
title_short The Becker-Döring equations with monomer input, competition and inhibition
title_sort becker-döring equations with monomer input, competition and inhibition
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/941/