Ostwald Ripening — Coarsening Dynamics

Lifshitz-Slyozov theory (1961) predicts that larger droplets grow at the expense of smaller ones via diffusion through the matrix. The mean radius grows as ⟨R⟩ ∝ t^(1/3) — the celebrated LSW coarsening law. Smaller droplets below the critical radius shrink and disappear.

Simulation

t: 0
N droplets:
⟨R⟩:
⟨R⟩³/t:
R_crit: