The kinetics of non steady-state crystal nucleation were calculated on the basis of the surface diffusion of adatoms. The formation of Au nuclei on NaCl substrates was studied experimentally, and was compared with theoretical predictions. Excellent agreement was found for a condensation temperature of 373K. The surface diffusivity of Au on NaCl was found to be equal to 3.8 x 10-12cm2/s.

E.I.Tochitskii, V.E.Tkharev: Vestsi Akad. Navuk B. SSR, Ser. Fiz-Tekh. Navuk, 1975, 4, 15-8