Electron-phonon interaction in small metal islands deposited on an insulating substrate†

Abstract

Measurements of characteristics of separate emission centres in an island film of gold, with electric current passing through, made it possible to estimate the value of electron-phonon interaction. In a particle of gold with a diameter of about a ≃ 2R ≃ 2 × 10−6 cm this value was found to be 5 × 1015 ergcm−3 s−1 deg−1, i.e. smaller by a factor of 102 than in bulk.