Postcollision relaxation of small atomic clusters.
Molecular-dynamics simulations are performed to investigate the effects caused by the lack of internal equilibration on the dynamics and properties of atomic clusters. The studied systems consist of Lennard-Jones clusters of five to ten atoms and a colliding vapor monomer. Cluster radius and potential energy are shown to reach a time-independent value within 30 ps after a collision with a vapor monomer. The relaxation in terms of rotational energy takes at least 200 ps. During the first couple of picoseconds after the collision time-dependent cluster decay rates are observed. The unrelaxed cluster states are expected to have minimal effect on gas-liquid nucleation rates.
Napari
Ismo
I
Department of Physical Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 64, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland. ismo.napari@helsinki.fi
Vehkamäki
Hanna
H