Size distributions in irreversible particle aggregation

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the size distributions resulting from irreversible particle aggregation in the free molecular regime, showing they tend to be log-normal over time using scaling relations and differential equations.

Contribution

It introduces a new analytical approach using scaling relations and PDEs to describe the asymptotic size distributions in particle aggregation.

Findings

Size distributions are close to log-normal asymptotically.

Mean particle sizes grow linearly with time.

The approach applies to high-energy equilibration scenarios.

Abstract

The aggregation of particles in the free molecular regime is determined approximately for situations with a high degree of translational energy equilibration. The mean particle sizes develop linearly in time. Scaling relations are used to derive a linear partial differential equation which is solved to show that the size distributions are close to log-normal asymptotically in time.