Slabs of stabilized jellium: Quantum-size and self-compression effects

We examine thin films of two simple metals (aluminum and lithium) in the st abilized jellium model, a modification of the regular jellium model in whic h a constant potential is added inside the metal to stabilize the system fo r a given background density. We investigate quantum-size effects on the su rface energy and the work function. For a given film thickness we also eval uate the density yielding energy stability, which is found to be slightly h igher than the equilibrium density of the bulk system and to approach this value in the limit of thick slabs. A comparison of our self-consistent calc ulations with the predictions of the liquid-drop model shows the validity o f this model.