Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2019 / iii / Paper 344 / 3 / c / Solution

The far-field composition $-{\varphi }_B$ has chemical potential zero. Local curved-interface coexistence imposes $\mu (R)={\mu }_s=\gamma /({\varphi }_{B}R)$. The decaying spherically symmetric solution of the exterior Laplace equation isWith constant mobility, its outward current isThe linearized exterior composition is $\varphi (r)=-{\varphi }_B+\mu (r)/\alpha$, consistent with the surface shift in the previous part.

For diffusion-controlled droplet growth, the interior is uniform to leading order and has no diffusive current. Replacing exterior material by interior material requires the composition jump $2{\varphi }_B$, so conservation gives $2{\varphi }_B\dot{R}=-J_r(R)$. HenceThe negative sign represents evaporation. The total outward current is $4\pi R^2{J}_r(R)=4\pi M\gamma /{\varphi }_B$, independent of $R$ in this leading quasi-static capillary approximation.