2008/02/29 by P. K. Kuiri, Probodh K. Kuiri, B. Joseph +7
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Atom (system on chip) #Atomic physics #Chemical physics #Cluster (spacecraft) #Cluster size #Condensed matter physics #Evaporation #Ion #Ion-surface interactions and analysis #Materials science #Phase transition #Physics #Quantum mechanics #Theoretical and Computational Physics #Thermodynamics #cond-mat.mtrl-sci #cond-mat.stat-mech #nanoparticles nucleation surface interactions
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.100.245501
published as Phys Rev Lett 100, 245501 (2008) · 4 pages, 3 figures
openalex publication_date 2008/06/18 · arxiv created 2009/10/16 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
Two exponents delta for the size distribution of n-atom clusters, Y(n) approximately n-delta, have been found in Au clusters sputtered from embedded Au nanoparticles under swift heavy ion irradiation. For small clusters, below 12.5 nm in size, delta has been found to be 3/2, which can be rationalized as occurring from a steady state aggregation process with size independent aggregation. For larger clusters, a delta value of 7/2 is suggested, which might come from a dynamical transition to another steady state where aggregation and evaporation rates are size dependent. In the present case, the observed decay exponents do not support any possibility of a thermodynamic liquid-gas-type phase transition taking place, resulting in cluster formation.