Relaxation of collective excitations in metallic clusters

Atom physics and physics of clusters and nanostructures
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Abstract:

A theoretical study of relaxation processes of collective excitations in metallic clusters is presented. The lifetimes of the plasmon excited states are calculated within the theoretical model based on separation of center of mass motion and internal excitations. The relaxation lifetimes corresponding to surface and volume phonon modes are calculated for sodium clusters of different size.