Lecoultre, S.Rydlo, A.Felix, C.Buttet, J.Gilb, S.Harbich, W.2011-12-162011-12-162011-12-16201110.1063/1.3537739https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/74447WOS:000287506000019We present optical absorption spectra in the UV-visible range (1.5 eV < E < 6 eV) for mass selected neutral gold clusters Au-n (n = 1-5 and 7-9) embedded in solid Ne at 7 K. The experimental spectra are compared with time-dependent density functional calculations. Electronic transitions are distributed over the whole energy range without any concentration of the oscillator strength in a small energy window, characteristic for the more s-like metals such as the alkalis or silver. Contrary to the case of silver and partly copper clusters, transitions issued from mainly d-type states are significantly involved in low energy transitions. The measured integrated cross section is smaller (<20%) than expected from a free-electron system, manifesting the strong screening of the s electrons due to the proximity of the s and d levels in gold. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3537739]Density-Functional TheoryElectronic Photodissociation SpectroscopyIon Mobility MeasurementsNoble-Gas MatricesIb Metals CuExcited-StatesSpectraAgApproximationAnionstext::journal::journal article::research article