Summary:
A two-variable stochastic model for diffusion-limited nucleation is developed using a formalism derived from fluctuating hydrodynamics. The model is a direct generalization of the standard classical nucleation theory (CNT). The nucleation rate and pathway are calculated in the weak-noise approximation and are shown to be in good agreement with direct numerical simulations for the weak-solution/strong-solution transition in globular proteins. We find that CNT underestimates the time needed for the formation of a critical cluster by two orders of magnitude and that this discrepancy is due to the more complex dynamics of the two variable model and not, as often is assumed, a result of errors in the estimation of the free energy barrier.
Keywords: nucleation, classical nucleation theory, proteins, Fokker–Planck equation
JCR-JIF Impact Factor and WoS quartile: 2,209 - Q2 (2015); 2,900 - Q3 (2025)
DOI reference:
https://doi.org/10.1088/0953-8984/27/23/235101
Published on paper: June 2015.
Published on-line: May 2015.
Citation:
J.F. Lutsko, M.A. Durán-Olivencia, "A two-parameter extension of classical nucleation theory", Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, Vol. 27, nº. 23, pp. 235101, June 2015. [Online: May 2015] doi: 10.1088/0953-8984/27/23/235101
