# Coalescence preference and droplet size inequality during fluid phase segregation

## TL;DR

This study uses molecular dynamics simulations to analyze how droplet coalescence preferences depend on size inequality during phase separation, revealing a power-law relationship with a novel exponent.

## Contribution

It introduces a new power-law exponent for coalescence preference that differs from previous reports, based on detailed simulation and scaling analysis.

## Key findings

- Coalescence preference distance decreases with larger parent size inequality.
- The relative coalescence position follows a power-law with an exponent of approximately 3.1.
- The observed exponent contrasts with earlier studies and is explained by different coalescence mechanisms.

## Abstract

Using molecular dynamics simulations and scaling arguments, we investigate the coalescence preference dynamics of liquid droplets in a phase-segregating off-critical, single-component fluid. It is observed that the preferential distance of the product drop from its larger parent, during a coalescence event, gets smaller for large parent size inequality. The relative coalescence position exhibits a power-law dependence on the parent size ratio with an exponent $q \simeq 3.1$. This value of $q$ is in strong contrast with earlier reports $2.02$ and $5.01$ in the literature. The dissimilarity is explained by considering the underlying coalescence mechanisms.