Polarizability affecting nucleation of water vapour condensation and ice glaciation in presence of external electric field

Abstract

Using the modified value of polarizability based on the present calculations, it is found that the critical nuclei have much less radii in the presence of electric field. The nucleation rate in presence of electric field is greater than in its absence. The enhancement factor to the nucleation rate in presence of electric field is several orders higher than in the absence of an

electric field. The polarizability of water vapour molecules in presence of external electric field plays an important role in the nucleation rate of water vapour condensation and ice glaciation. The increase in polarizability results in the increase in Gibb's free energy, and hence the increase in nucleation rate, but at the same time there is a decrease in relaxation time. The polarizability enhances the nucleation rate and equilibrium concentration, e.g. for a given relaxation time 5×10-¹⁵ s, the radius of critical nucleus is found to increase from 27.72×10^-9 cm to 81.07×10^-9 cm when electric field increases from 10 esu to 50 esu, whereas Gibb's free energy increases from 3.22×10^-15 erg to 27.54×10^-15 erg for same increase in electric field.