Photon Energy Dependent Valence Band Response of Metallic Nanoparticles

We show that the valence band response to photon impact in metallic nanoparticles is highly energy dependent. This is seen as drastic variations of cross sections in valence photoionization of free and initially charge-neutral nanosized metal clusters. The effect is demonstrated in a combined experimental and theoretical study of Rb clusters. The experimental findings are interpreted theoretically using a jellium model and superatom description. The variations are attributed to the changing overlap with the photon energy between the wave functions of diffuse delocalized valence electrons and continuum electrons producing a series of minima in the cross section.