Semiclassical approach to the description of the basic properties of nanoobjects

Abstract

A review of results obtained in the framework of the semiclassical approach in nanophysics is presented. A semiclassical description based on electrostatics and the Thomas-Fermi model is used to calculate the dimensions of the electronic shell of a fullerene molecule and a carbon nanotube. This simplified approach yields surprisingly accurate results in some cases. The semiclassical approach provides a rather good description of the dimensions of the electronic shell of a fullerene molecule. Two types of dipole oscillations in a fullerene molecule are considered and their frequencies calculated. Similar calculations are performed for a carbon nanotube also. These results look rather reasonable. Three types of dipole oscillations in a carbon nanotube are considered and their frequencies calculated. The frequencies of the longitudinal collective oscillations of delocalized electrons in a carbon peapod are calculated as well. A metallic cluster is modeled as a spherical ball. It is shown that the metallic cluster is stable; its bulk modulus and the frequency of the dipole oscillation of the electronic shell relative to the ions are calculated.