One of our lines of research focuses on the properties of metallic clusters, in particular the alkalis A_n (where A=Li,Na,K and n ranges from 2 up to ~10⁴). Some ongoing and recent projects:

• Capture of slow electrons by neutral clusters
• Cluster evaporation and recoil
• Resonance UV photoabsorption by collective electron oscillations
• Electric polarizabilities of clusters
• Nanoparticle work functions and their temperature dependence
• Surface-impact ionization of nanoparticles
• Long-range polarization forces
  

Cluster beam apparatus

A beam of cluster particles is generated and flies through a series of vacuum chambers. While in flight, the clusters are subjected to various probes. Finally they pass through a mass spectrometer, which can be set to focus on a particular particle mass or to scan through a range of masses.