Lithium clusters were prepared by evaporating lithium in argon at a pressure of 10
-4-10
-2 Torr and the mass numbers of these clusters containing up to 15 atoms and their relative abundances were measured by a quadrupole mass analyzer. In good vacuum lithium was detected as single, electrically neutral atoms. When argon was present, clusters composed of an even number of atoms were always detected. Li
3 and Li
5 were never detected. In the range Li
7 to Li
15 of clusters composed of an odd number of atoms were detected in smaller amounts than the case for neighbouring clusters containing an even number of atoms.
A few experimental studies by means of various methods concerning clusters are reviewed briefly.
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