A microscopic study of sodium cluster deposition on an insulating surface

Abstract

We present microscopic calculations of the low energy deposition of small sodium clusters on NaCl surface. The substrate surface is taken as inert acting on the cluster through its interface potential. The time evolution of the cluster electronic system is described using the time-dependent density approximation. The dependence of the attachment process on the initial cluster orientation relative to the insulating surface is studied for the case of a Na6 cluster.