Invariance of specific mass increment in the case of non-equilibrium growth

Abstract

The invariance of specific mass increments of crystalline structures that co-exist in the case of non-equilibrium growth is grounded for the first time by using the maximum entropy production principle. Based on the hypothesis of the existence of a universal growth equation, and through the dimensional analysis, an explicit form of the time-dependent specific mass increment is proposed. The applicability of the obtained results for describing growth in animate nature is discussed. © 2015 Chinese Physical Society and IOP Publishing Ltd.