METALLIC CHARACTER OF SMALL METAL AGGREGATES AS A FUNCTION OF THEIR ATOMIC-STRUCTURE

The electronic properties of small clusters are investigated by various techniques as a function of their atomic structure. In alkali clusters, most electronic properties may be understood in terms of a very simple electronic shell model. In divalent metal clusters, a transition occurs as a function of the size from the Van der Waals structure to the metallic one. This transition has been characterized in mercury. In trivalent metal clusters, a different behaviour has been found for aluminium and indium clusters. This difference could be due to a solid-like structure for aluminium and a liquid-like structure for indium in our experimental conditions.