SURFACE INTERACTION BETWEEN ATOMIC CLUSTERS

The effective interaction between metal clusters is calculated within the framework of the local-density Thomas-Fermi approximation. The resulting potentials can be parametrized in a general form valid for different sizes (via the curvatures of the two clusters) and different-systems (via the value of the surface tension). The characteristic features of the structure of the clusters are embodied in a ''universal'' function depending on the separation distance between their surfaces. Long-range contributions arising from the polarization of the two systems are also briefly discussed.