Quasi-static evolution of 3-D crystals grown from supersaturated vapor

Abstract

Gonda and Gomi (T.Gonda, H.Gomi, Ann. Glaciology, 6 (1985), 222--224) have grown large elongated ice crystals from supersaturated vapor. Theoretically this problem may be recast in a framework similar to that used by Seeger (A.Seeger, Philos. Mag., ser. 7, 44, no 348, (1953) 1--13) for studies of planar crystals. The resulting set of equations is of Stefan type. We also include the Gibbs-Thomson relation on the crystal surface. In order to make this system tractable mathematically we assume that the Wulff crystal is a fixed cylinder. Subsequently we study a weak form of our system. We show local in time existence of solutions assuming that the initial shape is an arbitrary cylinder. We comment on properties of weak solutions.