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Colloidal plasmas in space - Some aspects of condensation and growth of solidsThe abundant occurrence of colloidal plasma clouds in the observable universe is reviewed, and the possible locales of condensation of cosmic solids identified. The physical properties of the condensation environment and the thermal physics of the plasma-cluster medium are outlined. In the light of these discussions, an attempt is made to identify the salient features of the processes of nucleation and growth in space. It is suggested that the conventional nucleation theory is inadequate when applied to the tenuous, partially excited, partially ionized multispecies cosmic vapor phase, and that studies relying on the physics of progressive molecule growth in such environments hold promise of understanding the process of transition of a cluster from the size of a few atomic mass units through the macromolecular range into what may be characterized as the bulk condensed phase.
Document ID
19790066216
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
De, B. R.
(Lunar and Planetary Institute Houston, Tex., United States)
Arrhenius, G.
(California, University La Jolla, Calif., United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1979
Publication Information
Publication: Advances in Colloid and Interface Science
Volume: 10
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
79A50229
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSR-09-051-001
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGL-05-009-002
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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