Molecular Theories of Nucleation, Development, Rigor, Guidance for Phenomenological Theories

加州大学洛杉矶分校的霍华德·赖斯得到了理论和计算化学计划的支持，该计划利用统计力学方法研究成核的分子理论。这项研究分为四个项目：保持成核分子理论的严密性和一致性；发展成核动力学理论；建立固体界面热力学，并应用于潮解压力与颗粒大小的关系；以及发展与大气感兴趣的系统(如硫酸盐气溶胶的形成)有关的非均相成核理论。成核是所有科学和技术中最普遍的现象之一。尽管成核理论很重要，但直到最近，它一直是现象学的。分子成核理论的形成对大气科学、结晶、冶金和纳米化学等领域的许多实际应用具有重要意义。

Howard Reiss of UCLA is supported by the Theoretical and Computational Chemistry Program to investigate molecular theories of nucleation using statistical mechanics methods. This research is divided into four projects: maintenance of rigor and consistency in molecular theories of nucleation; development of a theory for the kinetics of nucleation; formulation of the thermodynamics of solid interfaces with application to the dependence of deliquescence pressure on particle size; and development of a theory for heterogeneous nucleation, in connection with systems of atmospheric interest such as the formation of sulfate aerosols.Nucleation is one of the most ubiquitous phenomena in all of science and technology. Despite its importance, the theory of nucleation has until recently been phenomenological. The formulation of a coherent, consistent theory of molecular nucleation has important consequences for many practical applications in atmospheric science, crystallization, metallurgy, and nanophase chemistry.