title: Molecular dynamics investigation of nanoscale cavitation dynamics.
abstract: We use molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the cavitation dynamics around intensely heated solid nanoparticles immersed in a model Lennard-Jones fluid. Specifically, we study the temporal evolution of vapor nanobubbles that form around the solid nanoparticles heated over ps time scale and provide a detail description of the following vapor formation and collapse. For 8 nm diameter nanoparticles we observe the formation of vapor bubbles when the liquid temperature 0.5-1 nm away from the nanoparticle surface reaches ∼90% of the critical temperature, which is consistent with the onset of spinodal decomposition. The peak heat flux from the hot solid to the surrounding liquid at the bubble formation threshold is ∼20 times higher than the corresponding steady state critical heat flux. Detailed analysis of the bubble dynamics indicates adiabatic formation followed by an isothermal final stage of growth and isothermal collapse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180, USA.
authors.forename: Kiran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sasikumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180, USA.
authors.forename: Pawel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Keblinski