This book focusses on basic science but it also addresses engineers interested in new materials. Experiments on metal clusters are reviewed in two long pedagogically written articles. The theoretical courses covered three main domains: (1) electronic properties of metallic clusters and nanostructures, (2) phases and phase changes of small systems, and (3) chemical processes in nanoscale systems. Furthermore, the interested readers, researchers as well as graduate students, will find articles on density-functional theory, magnetic properties of clusters, and computer simulations of cluster dynamics. In addition, the book addresses chemical processes, pairing correlation effects and also biological systems.

Klappentext

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.

Inhalt

Experimental Aspects of Metal Clusters.- Melting of Clusters.- Excitations in Clusters.- Density Functional Theory, Methods, Techniques, and Applications.- Semiclassical Approaches to Mesoscopic Systems.- Pairing Correlations in Finite Fermionic Systems.- Models of Metal Clusters and Quantum Dots.- Theory of Cluster Magnetism.- Electron Scattering on Metal Clusters and Fullerenes.- Energy Landscapes.- Confinement Technique for Simulating Finite Many-Body Systems.- Molecular Clusters: Potential Energy and Free Energy Surfaces. Quantum Chemical ab initio and Computer Simulation Studies.