On the genesis of nuclei and phase separation on an atomic scale

Turnbull performed much experimental and theoretical research on nucleation and on fundamental aspects of phase transformations in condensed matter. Nucleation of precipitates followed in parallel or sequentially by their growth and coarsening is a complex scientific subject and technologically highly relevant because of the many critical roles played by structural metallic alloys and their relevance to the energy problem. The focus herein is on nucleation, growth, and coarsening of precipitates employing atom-probe tomography, lattice kinetic Monte Carlo simulations, and diffusion theory, which constitute a unique approach for studying phase separation in concentrated multicomponent alloys.