2026-07-072026-07-07http://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/87944This pedagogical review presents the Shell Correction Method (SCM) and variants thereof, appropriate for describing shape deformations and electronic shell effects, energetics and decay pathways of metal-cluster fragmentation processes (e.g., monomer/dimer dissociation and fission). The experimental trends are compared to the theoretical SCM interpretations, and in addition theoretical results for fission from first-principles molecular-dynamics simulations are discussed. Some latest insights concerning the importance of electronic-entropy and finite-temperature effects are given special attention.Latex/Revtex, 37 pages with 17 eps figures incorporated in the text. Contributed chapter to the book "Metal Clusters", Edited by W. Ekardt. For related papers, see http://www.prism.gatech.edu/~ph274cyAtomic and Molecular ClustersMaterials ScienceNuclear Theorytext