Coalescence preference and droplet size inequality during fluid phase segregation

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.