Issues

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1992

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September

  

Reviews of topical problems


Small metal particles


Vereshchagin Institute for High Pressure Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Kaluzhskoe shosse 14, Troitsk, Moscow, 108840, Russian Federation

This review article is devoted to results of theoretical and experimental investigations of properties of nanometer metal particles. First, the modern theory of equilibrium structures and shapes of small particles is presented. The next Section deals with the thermodynamics of small particles. It reflects the present state of the theory of surface forces for small particles, including crystalline ones. Validity conditions are pointed out for the standard approach, and an alternative approach is described which is adequate for particles surrounded by their saturated vapor. In it the Laplace pressure is not a real physical force, but a formal quantity that describes the size dependence of the chemical potential. Specific features are described of melting and interphase fluctuations in small particles. In describing the electron properties of the particles emphasis is laid on the smoothed level density and the size dependence of the Fermi energy. Some effects caused by this dependence are presented, in particular the mutual charging of particles of different sizes which manifests itself in an anomalously strong attraction between particles and so on. Magnetic properties of small particles are also described including macroscopic quantum tunneling of magnetization.

Fulltext pdf (1.9 MB)
Fulltext is also available at DOI: 10.1070/PU1992v035n09ABEH002261
PACS: 61.46.Df, 01.30.Vv, 65.80.+n, 64.70.Dv, 73.22.−f, 75.50.Tt (all)
DOI: 10.1070/PU1992v035n09ABEH002261
URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/1992/9/b/
Citation: Nagaev E L "Small metal particles" Sov. Phys. Usp. 35 (9) 747–782 (1992)
BibTexBibNote ® (generic) BibNote ® (RIS)MedlineRefWorks
TY JOUR
TI Small metal particles
AU Nagaev, E. L.
PB Physics-Uspekhi
PY 1992
JO Physics-Uspekhi
JF Physics-Uspekhi
JA Phys. Usp.
VL 35
IS 9
SP 747-782
UR https://ufn.ru/en/articles/1992/9/b/
ER https://doi.org/10.1070/PU1992v035n09ABEH002261

Оригинал: Нагаев Э Л «Малые металлические частицы» УФН 162 (9) 49–124 (1992); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.0162.199209b.0049

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