title: Size-dependent electron-electron interactions in metal nanoparticles
abstract: The internal thermalization dynamics of the conduction electrons is investigated in silver nanoparticles with radius ranging from 13 to 1.6 nm using a femtosecond IR pump-UV probe absorption saturation technique. A sharp increase of the electron energy exchange rate is demonstrated for nanoparticles smaller than 5 nm. The results are consistent with electron-electron scattering acceleration due to surface induced reduction of the Coulomb interaction screening by the conduction and core electrons.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Optique Quantique du CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, 91128 Palaiseau cedex, France.
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Voisin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Christofilos
authors.lastname: Del Fatti N
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vallee
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Prevel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cottancin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lerme
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pellarin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Broyer