Critical radius for a supercooled spherical seed (source code)

= Critical radius for a supercooled spherical seed
{title2=$a_c=\Gamma/(T_s-T_\infty)$}

The <Gibbs--Thomson relation> depresses a spherical interface's equilibrium temperature by $\Gamma/a$. For $a>a_c$, its interface is warmer than the supercooled ambient and heat loss drives growth. For $a<a_c$, its interface is colder than the ambient and heat gain drives melting. The equilibrium radius is unstable because the derivative of the quasistatic radius velocity at $a_c$ is positive.