When does crystal nucleation proceed in two steps?
In plain words
Some crystals, for example of proteins, appear to form first as dense liquid-like blobs that later order inside. When this two-step route beats direct crystal formation, and what rate it gives, is not known.
Precise statement
For globular proteins such as lysozyme, colloids with short-range attraction and some small molecules, crystals are reported to nucleate within metastable dense-liquid droplets or amorphous precursors. Determine for which interaction ranges and supersaturations the two-step pathway dominates the rate, and derive a rate expression replacing CNT that predicts measured rates.
What would settle it
A rate theory for the two-step pathway whose predictions match rare-event simulations and measured nucleation rates in protein or colloid experiments.
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