DECAY OF CHARGED STABILIZED JELLIUM CLUSTERS

The stabilized jellium model is a simple modification of the jellium m odel, which more realistically describes simple metals of high density , such as Al, Ga, Pb, etc. We analyzed the fragmentation processes of charged spherical Al clusters in the framework of the stabilized jelli um model. Kohn-Sham calculations of the parents and daughters, using t he local density approximation, have been made. We evaluated the disso ciation energies Al-N(+), Al-N(2+) and Al-N(-) with N = 1-30 atoms, in all possible decay channels. We discuss the most favorable decay chan nels, which are ruled by the shell structure (magic numbers of valence electrons in the parents and the daughters) oscillations around an av erage trend given by a liquid drop model. We compare our calculations with others and with the available experimental data. (C) 1995 John Wi ley & Sons, Inc.