Quantum Confinement Effects in Nano-materials

Size-dependent properties and confinement effects are two emerging quantum signatures of nano-systems. They are interrelated and in this talk, I will examine how they can be described in terms of simple quantum models. I will examine how the electronic, optical and magnetic properties of nano-systems and clusters are strongly influenced by the spatial dimensions of the system. As a specific example, we will consider the case of Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy and nano-magnetism.