The Mason–Weaver equation (named after Max Mason and Warren Weaver) describes the sedimentation and diffusion of solutes under a uniform force, usually a gravitational field.[1] Assuming that the gravitational field is aligned in the z direction (Fig. 1), the Mason–Weaver equation may be written
where t is the time, c is the solute concentration (moles per unit length in the z-direction), and the parameters D, s, and g represent the solute diffusion constant, sedimentation coefficient and the (presumed constant) acceleration of gravity, respectively.
The Mason–Weaver equation is complemented by the boundary conditions
at the top and bottom of the cell, denoted as and , respectively (Fig. 1). These boundary conditions correspond to the physical requirement that no solute pass through the top and bottom of the cell, i.e., that the flux there be zero. The cell is assumed to be rectangular and aligned with the Cartesian axes (Fig. 1), so that the net flux through the side walls is likewise zero. Hence, the total amount of solute in the cell
The first term describes the flux due to diffusion down a concentration gradient, whereas the second term describes the convective flux due to the average velocity of the particles. A positive net flux out of a small volume produces a negative change in the local concentration within that volume
Substituting the equation for the fluxJ produces the Mason–Weaver equation
The dimensionless Mason–Weaver equation
The parameters D, s and g determine a length scale
and a time scale
Defining the dimensionless variables and , the Mason–Weaver equation becomes
at the top and bottom of the cell, and , respectively.
Solution of the Mason–Weaver equation
This partial differential equation may be solved by separation of variables. Defining , we obtain two ordinary differential equations coupled by a constant
at the upper and lower boundaries, and , respectively. Since the T equation has the solution , where is a constant, the Mason–Weaver equation is reduced to solving for the function .
To find the non-equilibrium values of the eigenvalues, we proceed as follows. The P equation has the form of a simple harmonic oscillator with solutions where
Depending on the value of , is either purely real () or purely imaginary (). Only one purely imaginary solution can satisfy the boundary conditions, namely, the equilibrium solution. Hence, the non-equilibrium eigenfunctions can be written as
where A and B are constants and is real and strictly positive.
By introducing the oscillator amplitude and phase as new variables,
the second-order equation for P is factored into two simple first-order equations
Remarkably, the transformed boundary conditions are independent of and the endpoints and
Taken together, the non-equilibrium components of the solution correspond to a Fourier series decomposition of the initial concentration distribution multiplied by the weighting function. Each Fourier component decays independently as , where is given above in terms of the Fourier series frequencies .
The Archibald approach, and a simpler presentation of the basic physics of the Mason–Weaver equation than the original.[2]
References
^Mason, M; Weaver W (1924). "The Settling of Small Particles in a Fluid". Physical Review. 23 (3): 412–426. Bibcode:1924PhRv...23..412M. doi:10.1103/PhysRev.23.412.
^Archibald, William J. (1938-05-01). "The Process of Diffusion in a Centrifugal Field of Force". Physical Review. 53 (9). American Physical Society (APS): 746–752. Bibcode:1938PhRv...53..746A. doi:10.1103/physrev.53.746. ISSN 0031-899X.