Clusters as systems of bound atoms or molecules are an intermediate form of matter between atomic and bulk particles. The object of our consideration is large clusters, small particles and systems consisting of them. The main part of the book consists of more than 200 problems, each illustrating a specific aspect of clusters or their behavior in gases and plasmas.

Autorentext

Boris M. Smirnov obtained his Master of Science in Theoretical Nuclear Physics in 1962. In 1964 he received his Doctorate in Physics, and in 1968 he became Professor of Physics. In 1972 he was appointed Head of Laboratory at Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy (Moscow). From 1982 to 1986 he was Head of Laboratory at the Institute of Thermophysics (Novosibirsk). From 1986 he is working at the Joint Institute for High Temperatures (Moscow) as Head of Laboratory, Head of Department and Principal Scientist. His research focuses on theory of atoms, molecules, clusters, plasma and chemical physics. He has authored 55 books and 500 papers. His latest books are: Fundamentals of Ionized Gases. Basic Topics of Plasma Physics (Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2011); Nanoclusters and Microparticles in Gases and Vapors (De Gruyter, Berlin, 2012); Theory of Gas Discharge Plasma (Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 2014); and Microphysics of Atmospheric Phenomena (Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 2016).

Inhalt
1 Behavior of Small Particles in Gases and Plasmasy.- 1.1 Collisional Processes Involving Clusters.- 1.2 Motion of Small Particles in Gases.- 1.3 Charging of Small Particles in Plasma.- 1.4 Chemical Processes Involving Clusters and Small Particles.- 2 Interaction of Small Particles with Electric and Electromagnetic Fields.- 2.1 Electric Properties of Small Particles.- 2.2 Ionization Equilibrium in Plasma Involving Small Particles and Clusters.- 2.3 Clusters and Small Particles in Radiative Processes.- 3 Bulk Systems of Bound Atoms with Pair Interaction.- 3.1 Condensed Systems of Atoms with Pair Interaction.- 3.2 Regular Crystalline Particles of Fcc-structure.- 4 Clusters with Pair Interaction of Atoms.- 4.1 Regular Clusters of Close Packed Structures.- 4.2 Icosahedral Structure of Clusters.- 4.3 Competition of Cluster Structures.- 5 Processes and Kinetics of Cluster Growth and Decay.- 5.1 Processes of Growth and Evaporation of Clusters in Parent Gas.- 5.2 Kinetics of Cluster Evolution in Parent Gas.- 5.3 Processes of Association of Two Small Particles.- 5.4 Kinetics of Association of Small Particles.- 5.5 Growth Processes in Gases Involving Fractal Systems.- 6 Clusters at Nonzero Temperature.- 6.1 Excited Clusters.- 6.2 Transitions from Clusters to Bulk Particles.- 6.3 Phase Transitions in Bulk and Clusters.- 7 Plasma with Small Particles or Clusters.- 7.1 Small Particles in Gas Discharge Plasma.- 7.2 Aerosol Plasma.- 7.3 Structures of Small Particles in Dusty Plasma.- 7.4 Charged Clusters in Arc Plasma.- Conclusion.- A Physical Parameters and Data.- A.1 Physical Constants and Relations.- A.2 Atomic Parameters.- A.3 Gaseous Values.- A.4 Parameters of Condensed Systems.- B Mechanical and Electrical Parameters of Particles Ellipsoidal and Close Forms.- B.1 The Effective Hydrodynamic Radius.- B.3 Polarizability.- C.- C.1 Models of Clusters and Small Particles.- References.