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| Paper: |
Dust Nucleation in Oxygen-Rich Environments |
| Volume: |
309, Astrophysics of Dust |
| Page: |
301 |
| Authors: |
Patzer, A.B.C. |
| Abstract: |
Dust forming regions in astrophysical environments are characterized by complex dynamical and chemical processes, and substantial non-equilibrium effects have to be expected, whenever velocity fields or sufficiently strong UV radiation are present. By defining an unconstrained equilibrium state of clusters in a saturated vapor non—equilibrium effects can be included straightforwardly in the theoretical description of the nucleation process. The transition from a gas to solid particles takes place via the formation and growth of small clusters in the gas phase. The required kinetic and thermodynamic data of such microphysical processes are often rarely available. Therefore, the nature and physical properties of oxide clusters possibly involved in dust condensation processes from the gas phase have been studied theoretically employing computational electronic structure techniques. The properties, thus obtained, are necessary prerequisites for the study of such phase transitions. Consequences regarding the nucleation of dust particles in oxygen-rich astrophysical environments are discussed. |
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