Non-linear electronic dynamics in metal clusters

This work deals with the valence electrons response of metallic clusters to various excitations, in a dynamical context and in relation with recent experiments where the methods, based on linear response, can't solve. They use a time dependent simulation to solve the electron movement with a discretization of the waves functions on a regular space grid. The study is based on the time dependent density-functional theory, restricted to the local spin-density approximation (LSDA). The other compounds of the clusters are either a jellium, either an explicit ionic background. This ionic background dynamic is discussed and the associated technic are presented. They are either a Crank-Nicholson auto-coherent treatment, either a treatment alternating between the direct space and the Fourier space. The used equations lead to a parallel treatment. Many application examples are given. A special attention is given to the nine atoms sodium cation, then to the more difficult case of eleven atoms. Spectra obtained for sodium clusters deposed on a sodium chloride surface, are given. Finally a simulation example within a moving ionic background by molecular dynamic is presented. Then the transfer to the ions of the energy deposed by a femto-second laser in a twelve sodium atoms, is discussed. The obtain spectra of the electronic resonance in a linear carbon cluster is discussed