New phase nucleation in electric fields

The formation of vapor bubbles in a superheated liquid or of liquid drops in a superheated vapor in a uniform electric field and at a charged center is considered. The work done for the formation of drops as well as their critical size decrease in all cases. The critical size of bubbles always increases, while the work decreases at a charged center and in a uniform field. An explanation is offered for the results of experiments on the initiation of boiling of a superheated liquid by electric field pulses. (C) 2001 MAIK "Nauka/ Interperiodica".