Thermal processes are ubiquitous and an understanding of thermal phenomena is essential for a complete description of the physics of nanoparticles, both for the purpose of modeling the dynamics of the particles and for the correct interpretation of experimental data. This book has the twofold aim to present coherently the relevant results coming from the recent scientific literature and to guide the readers through the process of deriving results, enabling them to explore the limits of the mathematical approximations and test the power of the method. The book is focused on the fundamental properties of nanosystems in the gas phase. For this reason there is a strong emphasis on microcanonical physics. Each chapter is enriched with exercises and 3 Appendices provide additional useful materials.

Autorentext
Klavs Hansen is Associate professor, Atomic, Molecular & Optical Physics at the University of Gothenburg. He has held various positions in the USA, Denmark, Germany, Finland and Japan. His expertise is in statistical and quantum processes in free clusters and large molecules, studied through multiphoton ionization and fragmentation experiments.

Inhalt

The relation between classical and quantum statistics.- Microcanonical temperature.- Thermal properties of vibrations.- Rate constants for emission of atoms, electrons and photons.- The evaporative ensemble.- Abundance distributions; large scale features.- Molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations.- Thermal excitation of valence electrons.- He droplets.