THE COULOMB EXPLOSION OF CHARGED DROPS

In the framework of the density functional theory using a simple variational model the authors have calculated the first-order size correction to electro-physical characteristics of small metal particles. They have discovered that the curvature correction to the surface energy is of positive sign, and have shown that it is possible to use macroscopic electrodynamics in calculations of the ionization potential and the electron affinity. They have determined the maximum charge which can be retained by a particle of a given size.