These issues represent a compendium of review papers covering almost every aspect of the physics of clusters and nanophase materials. Papers have been written by leading international experts in the field. The purpose of this compendium has been to illustrate, in more detail than is possible in a conference paper, the fundamental or underlying principles.

This book supplies a systematic description of the preparation, characterization, and manipulation of cluster beams for the synthesis of nanocrystalline materials. It addresses all issues relevant to the realization of nanophase structures, providing an excellent introduction for scientists working in different fields. Particular emphasis is placed on using the technique for nanostructured materials and on explaining the role of cluster beams within the context of other experimental techniques in surface-science.

Clusters represent a new class of materials with totally new applications. This broad-ranging book presents and evaluates some of the latest developments in this area. The authors present some of the important recent advances made through the use of new experimental techniques and theoretical approaches.

The monograph is devoted to the relatively new and fast developing field of cluster physics. It is based on talks given at the Cluster Workshops, which were held in Pushchino in 1995 and 1996. The reports focus not only on the fundamental physical properties of clusters such as their geometric and electronic structure, as well as optical, thermal and magnetic properties, but also on a broad spectrum of their potential applications. These include nucleation and growth of small particles, fabrication of new materials with predefined properties (cluster-assembled and nanostructures). Some aspects of simulations and calculations of small particles and clusters are also discussed.We hope that our monograph will be of interest to a broad range of readers who will be able to sense the excitement of the talks.

The physics of clusters is a new and rapidly developing area. It is a frontier in the field of atomic and molecular physics, and condensed matter physics.One of the biggest concerns in the study of the physics of clusters is the methods of cluster measurements. The findings reported in this book on the methods of cluster measurements will lead to new avenues using nondestructive mass spectrometry and dipole mass isomers.Much attention is given to the physics and chemistry of fullerenes and nanotubes, including the problems surrounding the formation and growth of nanotubes, electron characteristics of fullerenes, the influence of solvents, simulation of the properties of carbon clusters, etc. Some unique experimental data on the conversion of aerosols into aerogels with the formation of fractal structures is provided. In addition, the book covers one of the most interesting subjects of modern physics — fractal clusters.Quantitative information on the thermodynamic properties of transition metal clusters, their binding energies to various ligands, and their reactions is obtained using a metal cluster guided ion beam mass spectrometer. Measurement of the thermodynamic stability of transition metal clusters is reported. The thermodynamic data given is unique, in that no comparable information has been obtained from any other method.Other topics of interest include atomic collision processes (including studies of electron attachment); oxidation; fundamental physical and chemical properties of clusters in the gas phase and in plasma (such as their geometrical and electron structure, magnetic, optical, chemical characteristics, etc.), and the wide range of their potential applications (including nucleation and growth of small particles such as aerosols, development of new materials with predetermined properties (cluster ensembles and nanophase materials), growing of thin films, cluster nanowire contacts, cluster lamps, dusty plasma, etc.

The preparation of atomic clusters of metals and ceramics by means of the gas-condensation method, followed by their in situ consolidation under high-vacuum conditions, has recently led to the synthesis of a new class of ultrafine-grained materials for which their physics is intimately coupled with their application. These nanophase materials, with 2 to 20 nm grain sizes, appear to have properties that are often rather different from conventional materials, and also processing characteristics that are greatly improved. The nanophase synthesis method described here should enable the design of materials heretofore unavailable, with improved or unique properties, based upon an understanding of the physics of these new materials. 23 refs., 8 figs.