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.

Klappentext

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.

Inhalt
1 Introduction.- 1.1 What are Clusters?.- 1.2 What Makes Clusters Interesting?.- 1.3 How Does One Make Clusters?.- 1.4 Experiments with Clusters.- 1.5 Experiments Not Possible Today.- 1.6 Cluster, Tantalizing Subjects for Theoretical Studies.- 1.7 Clusters Make New Kinds of Materials.- 1.8 New Chemistry.- 1.9 Outlook.- 2 Theoretical Concepts.- 2.1 Quantum Chemistry of Clusters.- References.- 2.2 Tight-Binding and Hückel Models of Molecular Clusters.- References.- 2.3 Density Functional Calculations for Clusters.- References.- 2.4 Transition from van der Waals to Metallic Bonding in Clusters.- Appendix A: Slave-Boson Approach to Electron Correlations in Small Clusters.- Appendix B: On the Size Dependence of the Ionization Energy of Small Clusters.- References.- 2.5 Analytic Cluster Models and Interpolation Formulae for Cluster Properties.- References.- 2.6 Shell Structure in Atoms, Nuclei and in Metals Clusters.- References.- 2.7 Introduction to Statistical Reaction Rate Theories.- References.- 2.8 Melting and Freezing of Clusters: How They Happen and What They Mean.- References.- 3 Experimental Methods.- 3.1 Sources.- 3.2 Detection of Cluster Ions.- 3.3 Electron Diffraction.- 3.4 Methods for the Production of (Nearly) Mass Selected Neutral Cluster Beams.- 3.5 Mass Spectrometers.- 3.6 Optical Spectroscopy.- 3.7 Infrared Spectroscopy.- 3.8 Photo Electron Spectroscopy.- 3.9 Recent Developments.- References.- 4 Across the Periodic Table.- 4.1 Alkali Clusters.- References.- 4.2 Clusters of s2p1 Metals and Semiconductors.- References.- 4.3 Transition Metal Clusters: Physical Properties.- References.- 4.4 Carbon Clusters.- References.- 4.5 Oxides and Halides of Alkali Metals.- References.- 4.6 Rare Gas Clusters.- References.- 4.7 Neutral Molecular Clusters.- References.