Smoluchowski coagulation equation

E52850

The Smoluchowski coagulation equation is a fundamental integro-differential equation in statistical physics that models how particles undergoing random collisions aggregate over time into larger clusters.


Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf integro-differential equation
kinetic equation
model in statistical physics
appliesTo aerosols
cloud microphysics
colloidal suspensions
gelation phenomena
planetary formation models
polymerization processes
assumes mean-field approximation
pairwise particle collisions
spatial homogeneity
canExhibit gelation transition
describes binary collisions between particles
cluster aggregation
particle coagulation
time evolution of cluster size distribution
feature gain term due to aggregation
loss term due to aggregation
nonlinear integral term
field applied mathematics
physical chemistry
soft matter physics
statistical physics
hasSolutionType scaling solutions
self-similar solutions
hasSpecialCase additive kernel coagulation model
constant kernel coagulation model
multiplicative kernel coagulation model
hasVariable cluster size distribution
particle concentration as a function of size and time
influenced modern coagulation-fragmentation theory
involves collision rate between particles
mathematicalForm integro-differential equation in time and cluster size
namedAfter Marian Smoluchowski
originatedIn early 20th century
relatedTo Boltzmann equation
Fokker–Planck equation
surface form: Smoluchowski diffusion equation

fragmentation equations
population balance equations
requires initial cluster size distribution
studiedIn non-equilibrium statistical mechanics
probability theory
stochastic processes
usedFor analyzing aggregation kinetics
modeling cluster growth
predicting particle size distributions
uses coagulation kernel

Referenced by (1)

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Marian Smoluchowski knownFor Smoluchowski coagulation equation