Atomic Clusters

Cluster physics is the foundation of the increasingly important field of nanotechnology. Clusters, ranging in size from a few to many millions of atoms, constitute a fascinating field of research in physics, chemistry and materials science. They are formed by most of the elements of the Periodic Table, and the types of bonding and the resultant clusters are equally as varied. This book introduces atomic clusters, ranging from weakly-bonded clusters of argon to strongly-bonded carbon clusters and metal nano-particles. It includes worked examples to enable lecturers and students to gauge their understanding and progress. Atomic and Molecular Clusters describes the experimental generation, detection and interrogation of clusters and theoretical approaches developed to aid understanding of their physical properties. It classifies clusters according to their bonding types and gives examples of present and possible future applications of clusters in electronic, optical and magnetic devices.

Clusters of Atoms and Molecules I is devoted to theoretical concepts and experimental techniques important in the rapidly expanding field of cluster science. Cluster properties are dicussed for clusters composed of alkali metals, semiconductors, transition metals, carbon, oxides and halides of alkali metals, rare gases, and neutral molecules. The book contains several well-integrated treatments, all prepared by experts. Each contribution starts out as simple as possible and ends with the latest results, so that the book can serve as a text for a course, an introduction into the field, or as a reference book for the expert.

Atomic clusters are aggregates of atoms containing a few to several thousand atoms. Due to the small size of these pieces of matter, the properties of atomic clusters in general are different from those of the corresponding material in the macroscopic bulk phase. This monograph presents the main developments of atomic clusters and the current status of the field. The book treats different types of clusters with very different properties: clusters in which the atoms or molecules are tied by weak van der Waals interactions, metallic clusters, clusters of ionic materials, and network clusters made of typical covalent elements. It includes methods of experimental cluster synthesis as well as the structural, electronic, thermodynamic and magnetic properties of clusters, covering both experiments and the theoretical work that has led to our present understanding of the different properties of clusters. The question of assembling nanoclusters to form solids with new properties is also considered. Having an adequate knowledge of the properties of clusters can be of great help to any scientist working with objects of nanometric size. On the other hand, nanoclusters are themselves potentially important in fields like catalysis and nanomedicine.

Focused on basic science, this book reviews experiments on metal clusters in two long pedagogically written articles. Interested readers will also find articles ranging from density functional theory to computer simulations of cluster dynamics.

This comprehensive volume surveys the general aspects of atomic cluster science and outlines some of its important new challenges. It begins by detailing the recent advances in the understanding of structure and the essential properties of selected atomic cluster systems, fullerenes and confined atoms. Recent advances in the field of photo processes involving atomic clusters and fullerenes are discussed, and an entire chapter is devoted to the problem of fission dynamics of atomic clusters, presenting parallels with similar processes in nuclear physics.The book goes on to describe the problems of electron-cluster collisions with special emphasis on polarization and collective excitation effects. The important area of the behavior of atomic clusters in laser fields is considered; the ionization, collective dynamics of electrons in the system in the presence of the laser field, and the laser induced dynamics of molecules and clusters are thoroughly described.Finally, a broad spectrum of problems in the area of ionic collisions with fullerenes and metal clusters is covered — from both experimental and theoretical points of view — and the results of the most recent measurements are reported. The concluding chapter takes a careful look at the interaction of an atomic cluster with a surface. The problems of cluster deposition and formation at a surface as well as collision processes involving clusters deposited at a surface are considered through a number of illustrative examples./a

In this volume, the main results of the last sixty years of research in nuclear fission are summarized, showing how ideas advanced from the beginning, for nuclei have also found useful applications in the new area of atomic clusters. The present status of the physics of fission is discussed in depth, and perspectives for further research are outlined. Contents: Fission Studies with Large Detector Arrays (J K Hwang et al.); Fission, Decay of Nuclei and the Extension of the Periodic System (W Greiner); Neutron Halo of Fissile Nuclei (V I Serov et al.); Decay Channels of Hot Nuclei and Hot Metalic Clusters (P FrAbrich); Cluster Radioactivity (A A Ogloblin et al.); Static and Dynamical Properties of Simple Metal Clusters: Analogies with Atomic Nuclei (J A Alonso et al.); The Role of Exotica in Studying Nuclear Fission (F F Karpeshin); Particle-Accompanied Fission (M Mutterer et al.); Quaternary Fission (F GAnnenwein et al.); Bremsstrahlung Emission in Alpha-Decay (D M Brink); A Model for Particle Induced Fission (F B Malik); Fusion-Fission Reactions of Heaviest Nuclei. Synthesis of Superheavy Elements with Z=114 and Z=116 (Yu Ts Oganessian et al.); and other papers. Readership: Students and researchers in atomic, molecular and nuclear physics."

In this volume, the main results of the last sixty years of research in nuclear fission are summarized, showing how ideas advanced from the beginning, for nuclei have also found useful applications in the new area of atomic clusters. The present status of the physics of fission is discussed in depth, and perspectives for further research are outlined.