Growth and Scaling Dynamics of Condensed Water Drops around a NaCl crystal nucleus

ORAL

Abstract

We report experimental results on the evolution of condensed water drops in presence of a NaCl crystal nucleus on an ITO substrate. Initially, a drop of radius R starts to grow on the nucleus. At the same time, at distance r from the nucleus center, a condensation pattern is also growing. A region of inhibited condensation is present between the central drop and the pattern. The width of this region $\delta$ asymptotically decreases as $t^{-1/6}$. The mean size of drops in the condensation patterns follows a power law $r^{\gamma}$, where $\gamma$ evolves in time and has an average value of 0.16$\pm$0.07. The role of surface diffusion on this system behavior is discussed.

*Partially supported by Departamento de Educaci\'on (Gobierno de Navarra) and by Spanish MEC (FIS2008-01126)

Authors

  • Wenceslao Gonz\'alez-Vi\~nas

    • Universidad de Navarra
    • University of Navarra
  • Ramchandra D. Narhe

    • University of Navarra
  • Jos\'e M. Guadarrama

    • University of Navarra
  • Daniel Beysens

    • CEA-ESEME, ESPCI-PMMH, France