Dynamical Polarizability of Small Metal Particles: Self-Consistent Spherical Jellium Background Model

The electronic polarizability of small metal particles is investigated within the framework of the local-density approximation applied to the spherical jellium model. Self-consistent effective potentials are used for the determination of the independent-particle susceptibility χ⁰(→r,→r^';ω). On the basis of this χ⁰ the self-consistent field response equation, determining the susceptibility χ(→r,→r^';ω) of the interacting electrons, is solved with the inclusion of exchange and correlation. In this way we obtain for the first time the self-consistently determined absorption spectrum of small metal clusters.