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Abstract An approximate method for the numerical solution of a kinetic equation describing the nucleation, growth and coarsening of point-defect clusters or second-phase precipitates is of interest for many applications in solid-state physics. In the present paper the validity of a grouping method developed by Kiritani (1973, J. phys. Soc. Japan 35, 95) is examined. In this method, which is the only one proposed up to now, a group of equations is replaced by an ‘averaged’ equation. Significant disagreement between the group kinetic equation and the original kinetic equation is revealed and the reasons for this are specified. A new grouping method based on the original equation is proposed and application of the method for the solution of two problems is demonstrated by comparing the results of numerical and analytical calculations.
Golubov et al. (Thu,) studied this question.