Alternative Calculation of the Nucleus Size during Homogeneous Solidification from a Supercooled Liquid.

An alternative approach to calculating the critical nucleus size and the nucleus formation energy has been developed. A significant difference between this method and the generally accepted so-called classical method, according to which a nucleation center begins to form at the melting temperature, is noted. The results are illustrated by the dependences of the nucleus size and the nucleus formation energy on the supercooling and by the Gibbs energy plotted as a function of the nucleus size in both the classical and the proposed versions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]