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.

Clusters as mesoscopic particles represent an intermediate state of matter between single atoms and solid material. The tendency to miniaturise technical objects requires knowledge about systems which contain a "small" number of atoms or molecules only. This is all the more true for dynamical aspects, particularly in relation to the qick development of laser technology and femtosecond spectroscopy. Here, for the first time is a highly qualitative introduction to cluster physics. With its emphasis on cluster dynamics, this will be vital to everyone involved in this interdisciplinary subject. The authors cover the dynamics of clusters on a broad level, including recent developments of femtosecond laser spectroscopy on the one hand and time-dependent density functional theory calculations on the other.

The cluster which is an ensemble of two thousands of atoms or molecules, has emerged as a completely new class of materials at the frontier of materials science. The frontier of cluster science extends so rapidly that the map of the science is renewed day by day. In order to provide basic knowledge and recent information on this growing field, 14 world-renowned scientists who are actively involved experimentally and theoretically in cluster science have written this book, which is concise, comprehensive, suitable for students at both the undergraduate and the graduate level, as well as people who work outside cluster science. Contents: Survey of Structure, Energetics and Dynamics of Clusters (R S Berry & R D Levine); Molecular and Ionic Cluster Spectroscopy (J M Lisy); Physical and Chemical Properties of Metal Clusters in the Gas Phase and on Solid Surfaces (A Terasaki); Femtosecond Spectroscopy on Metal Clusters (a Vajda et al.); Core Level Excitation of Clusters (E Rhl); Laboratory Experiments on Single Levitated Aerosol Particles (T Leisner); Cluster Formation from Liquid Phase (F Mafun(r)). Readership: Researchers in atomic physics, molecular physics and physical chemistry."

I feel very honored that I have been asked to write a Foreword to this book. The subject of the book – “Coupled cluster theory” – has been around for about half a century. The basic theory and explicit equations for closed-shell ground states were formulated before 1970. At the beginning of the seventies the rst ab initio calcu- tion were carried out. At that time speed and memory of computers were very limited compared to today’s standards. Moreover, the size of one-electron bases employed was small, so that it was only possible to achieve an orientation in methodical aspects rather than to generate new signi cant results. Extensive use of the coupled-cluster method started at the beginning of the eighties. With the help of more powerful computers the results of coupled-cluster approaches started to yield more and more interesting results of relevance to the interpretation of experimental data. New ideas in methodology kept appearing and computer codes became more and more ef cient. This exciting situation continues to this very day. Remarkably enough, even the - quired equations can now be generated by a computer with the help of symbolic languages. The size of this monograph and the rich variety of articles it contains attests to the usefulness and viability of the couple-cluster formalism for the h- dling of many-electron correlation effects. This represents a vivid testimony of a tremendous work that has been accomplished in coupled-cluster methodology and its exploitation.

Filling the need for a solid textbook, this short primer in cluster science is ideal for a one-semester lecture for advanced undergraduate students. It is based on a series of lectures given by the well-established and recognized authors for the past ten years. The book covers both the basics of the domain as well as up-to-date developments. It can be divided roughly into two parts. The first three chapters introduce basic concepts of cluster science. Chapter 1 provides a general introduction, complemented by chapter 2 on experimental and chapter 3 on theoretical aspects. The second half of the book is devoted to a systematic presentation of free cluster properties, and to a thorough discussion of the impact of clusters in other domains of science. These explicitly worked-out links between cluster physics and other research areas are unique both in terms of fundamental aspects and of applications, and cannot be found elsewhere in the literature. Also suitable for researchers outside of the field looking for an introduction to cluster science.

Cluster physics is the foundation of the increasingly important field of nanotechnology. Clusters, ranging in size from a few to many millions of atoms, constitute a fascinating field of research in physics, chemistry and materials science. They are formed by most of the elements of the Periodic Table, and the types of bonding and the resultant clusters are equally as varied. This book introduces atomic clusters, ranging from weakly-bonded clusters of argon to strongly-bonded carbon clusters and metal nano-particles. It includes worked examples to enable lecturers and students to gauge their understanding and progress. Atomic and Molecular Clusters describes the experimental generation, detection and interrogation of clusters and theoretical approaches developed to aid understanding of their physical properties. It classifies clusters according to their bonding types and gives examples of present and possible future applications of clusters in electronic, optical and magnetic devices.