Fluctuations provide strong selection in Ostwald ripening

A selection problem that appears in the Lifshitz-Slyozov (LS) theory of Ostwald ripening is reexamined. The problem concerns selection of a self-similar distribution function (DF) of the minority domains with respect to their sizes from a whole one-parameter family of solutions. A strong selection rule is found via an account of fluctuations. Fluctuations produce an infinite tail in the DF and drive the DF towards the "limiting solution" of LS or its analogs for other growth mechanisms.