A theory of growth by differential sedimentation with application to snowflake formation
/ Authors
/ Abstract
A simple model of irreversible aggregation under differential sedimentation of particles in a fluid is presented. The structure of the aggregates produced by this process is found to feed back on the dynamics in such a way as to stabilise both the exponents controlling the growth rate, and the fractal dimension of the clusters produced at readily predictable values. The aggregation of ice crystals to form snowflakes is considered as a potential application of the model.