Non-photochemical laser-induced nucleation of supercooled glacial acetic acid

Abstract

Non-photochemical laser-induced nucleation (NPLIN) of glacial acetic acid (GAA) is demonstrated. The fraction of samples nucleated depends linearly on peak laser power density at low powers (<100 MW cm⁻²) with a threshold of (9.0 ± 4.2) MW cm⁻²; at higher laser powers the fraction reaches a plateau of 0.75 ± 0.24 (2σ uncertainties). A simple model based on polarizability of pre-nucleating clusters gives a value of the solid–liquid interfacial tension γ_SL = 15.5 mJ m⁻². It is hoped that the results will stimulate new developments in experimental and theoretical studies of cluster structure and nucleation in liquids.