CLUSTER-CLUSTER COLLISIONS .3. POTENTIAL-ENERGY BETWEEN CLUSTERS

The intercluster potential for the systems Na8 + Na8, Na9 + Na9, Na19 + Na19 and Na20 + Na20 and the fragmentation potentials of Na40, Na58, Na68 and Na92 are calculated on the basis of density functional theor y in the local density approximation and the jellium model. From the f ragmentation potentials as a function of mass asymmetry a rich variety of final size distributions of the product in cluster-cluster collisi ons is predicted, originating from amplification and annihilation of s hell closing effects. Shell effects are also found to dominate the int ercluster potentials as a function of the intercluster distance. The p roximity theorem is, however, found to be satisfied for metallic clust ers.