Comment on ``Jellium model of metallic nanocohesion''

TL;DR

This paper critiques a recent model of nanoconstriction forces, revealing a universal force contribution using semiclassical analysis, and clarifies the conditions under which it appears.

Contribution

It introduces a semiclassical Weyl expansion approach to identify a universal force component in metallic nanoconstrictions, contrasting with previous models.

Findings

Universal force contribution of (4 epsilon_F)/(9 lambda_F) for smooth cross sections.

Presence of a hole eliminates this universal force component.

Provides a semiclassical framework for analyzing nanocohesion forces.

Abstract

In a recent letter Stafford, Baeriswyl and Burki have provided a simple model for the elastic force in metallic constrictions of nanometer size. By employing a semiclassical Weyl expansion for the density of states of transverse modes, we show that for any smooth cross section, there is a universal contribution (4 epsilon_F)/(9 lambda_F) to the average force which is absent in the presence of a hole.