Abstract Continuum methods are efficient in modeling multi-phase flow at large time and length scales, however, their applicability to nanoscale systems and processes is questionable. When mean free path and average time between atomic collisions are comparable to the characteristic length and time scales of interest, the continuum hypothesis approaches its spatial and temporal limit. Here we discuss the implications of modeling such a limiting problem involving liquid-vapor phase change using continuum equations of mass, momentum, and energy conservation. Our results indicate that, continuum conservation laws can correctly represent the dynamics of the specific problem of interest provided appropriate constitutive relations are used at liquid-vapor interfaces. We show that with the Schrage relation for phase change rates and a physically motivated expression for temperature jump, interfacial phenomena can be described quite accurately.

中文翻译：

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连续尺度模型在超快纳米级液汽相变中的适用性

摘要 连续介质方法在模拟大时间和长度尺度的多相流方面是有效的，但是，它们对纳米级系统和过程的适用性值得怀疑。当原子碰撞之间的平均自由程和平均时间与感兴趣的特征长度和时间尺度相当时，连续统假设接近其空间和时间极限。在这里，我们讨论使用质量、动量和能量守恒的连续方程对这种涉及液-气相变的限制问题进行建模的含义。我们的结果表明，如果在液-气界面使用适当的本构关系，连续体守恒定律可以正确表示感兴趣的特定问题的动力学。