Snow Crystal Growth: Diffusion-Limited Aggregation (2D)

What is Diffusion-Limited Aggregation (DLA)?

Diffusion-limited aggregation (DLA) describes a process where particles move randomly in space and stick to each other when they come into contact. In the context of snow crystal growth, these particles are typically water molecules that freeze onto a growing crystal upon collision.

This phenomenon is crucial for understanding how intricate natural patterns form, such as the diverse shapes of snowflakes.

How Does Temperature Affect DLA?

Temperature plays a significant role in determining the rate and pattern of particle aggregation. Higher temperatures generally lead to more compact structures because particles move faster, increasing the likelihood of collisions.

Conversely, lower temperatures slow down molecular motion, leading to more complex, branched structures as particles have time to find their ideal positions.

The Role of Sticking Probability

Sticking probability refers to the likelihood that a particle will adhere to an existing crystal structure upon contact. A higher sticking probability results in more rapid and dense growth, while a lower probability leads to slower, more intricate patterns.

In nature, this parameter can be influenced by factors such as humidity and temperature, which affect how easily water molecules stick together.

Particle Count and Its Impact

The number of active walkers (particles) also influences the growth pattern. A larger number of particles can lead to more complex structures due to increased competition for attachment sites.

In simulations, adjusting this parameter allows researchers to study how different initial conditions affect final crystal shapes.

Frequently asked questions

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Everything above runs in your browser — open Snow Crystal Growth: Diffusion-Limited Aggregation (2D) and change the parameters while it is running. Nothing is installed, nothing is uploaded, the whole model lives in one tab.