Abstract

While the electronic structure of metallic atoms can be calculated accurately using ab initio quantum chemistry, and infinite metallic solids are rather well understood through the methods of solid state physics, metallic clusters ranging in size between these two extremes are understood to a much lesser extent. The study of these small metal clusters provides fundamental information about bonding in metals, such as the contribution of the various orbitals to the bonding and the effect this has on bond strengths and other properties.

© 1993 Optical Society of America