Density profiles and surface tension of spherical interfaces. Numerical results for nitrogen drops and bubbles

Abstract

The effect of droplet size on surface tension is discussed. The inhomogeneous fluid in the interface is described with the help of a stress tensor in the frame of gradient theory. Numerical results are given for nitrogen drops and bubbles. For bubbles, the surface tension γ is always lower than for a plane interface and decreases as the sphere radius decreases. The behavior of drops is more complicated. Their surface tension γ is not a monotonic function of the radius. As the curvature increases γ, increases and reaches a maximum for R≃35 Å, then it decreases rapidly. Minimum energies of drops and bubbles formation are also given.