Eur. Phys. J. D 34, 199-204 (2005)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2005-00107-8

Effects of confinement on the electron and lattice dynamics in metal nanoparticles

¹ Laboratoire de Spectrométrie Ionique et Moléculaire, CNRS and Université Lyon I, 43 boulevard du 11 novembre 1918, 69622 Villeurbanne, France
² Centre de Physique Moléculaire Optique et Hertzienne, CNRS and Université Bordeaux I, 351 cours de la Libération, 33405 Talence, France

Corresponding author: ^a lerme@lasim.univ-lyon1.fr

Received: 6 September 2004
Published online: 13 July 2005

Abstract

Effects of confinement on the electron-electron (e-e) and electron-phonon (e-ph) thermalization dynamics in noble metal clusters are calculated using simple approaches. The model predictions are compared with femtosecond pump-probe measurements which display an acceleration of the e-e and e-ph relaxation dynamics. The size-effects on the e-e relaxation dynamics are consistent with a model involving the surface-induced reduction of the screening efficiency of the Coulomb e-e interaction. With regard to the e-ph relaxation dynamics, this model yields too large time constants, pointing out deficiencies of the standard modelling of the e-ph energy exchanges in bulk metals. Analysis of these deficiencies shows that the bare e-ion interaction has to be involved in the transition matrix element describing the non-adiabatic e-ph energy exchanges.