https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-019-6689-4
Regular Article - Experimental Physics
On the critical energy required for homogeneous nucleation in bubble chambers employed in dark matter searches
1
INFN, LNGS, Via G. Acitelli 22, Assergi, 67100, L’Aquila, Italy
2
ENEA, Centro Ricerche Casaccia, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123, S. Maria di Galeria, Rome, Italy
3
INFN, Sezione di Roma La Sapienza, P.le Aldo Moro 2, 00185, Rome, Italy
4
DIAEE, Sapienza Università di Roma, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184, Rome, Italy
5
INAF, Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino, Via Osservatorio 30, 10025, Pino Torinese, Turin, Italy
6
INFN, Sezione di Milano-Bicocca, P.za della Scienza 3, 20126, Milan, Italy
7
Dip. di Fisica, Università di Milano-Bicocca, P.za della Scienza 3, 20126, Milan, Italy
* e-mail: massimo.corcione@uniroma1.it
Received:
3
January
2019
Accepted:
15
February
2019
Published online:
28
February
2019
Two equations for the calculation of the critical energy required for homogeneous nucleation in a superheated liquid, and the related critical radius of the nucleated vapour bubble, are obtained, the former by the direct application of the first law of thermodynamics, the latter by considering that the bubble formation implies the overcoming of a barrier of the free enthalpy potential. Compared with the currently used relationships, the present equations, still allowing for reversible processes only, lead to thermodynamic energy thresholds of the bubble chambers employed in dark matter searches that are closer to the experimental values.
© The Author(s), 2019
