Article: Quantum-classical determination of stable isomers of the Li*Arn clusters Journal: International Journal of Nanoparticles (IJNP) 2012 Vol.5 No.3 pp.227 - 242 Abstract: We present a quantum-classical determination of stable isomers of LiArn, clusters with both an electronic ground state and excited states of the lithium atom. The Li atom is perturbed by argon atoms in LiArn clusters. Its electronic structure obtained as the eigenfunctions of a single-electron operator describing the electron in the field of a LI+Arn core, the LI+ and Ar atoms are replaced by pseudo-potentials. These pseudo-potentials include core-polarisation operators to account for the polarisation and correlation of the inert core with the valence lithium electron (Rhouma et al., 2002). The geometry optimisation of the ground and excited states of LiArn (n = 1-12) clusters is carried out via the Basin-Hopping method of Wales et al. (Wales and Doyle, 1997; Wales and Scheraga, 1999). The geometries of the ground and ionic states of LiArn clusters were used to determine the energy of the high excited states of the neutral LiArn clusters. The variation of the excited state energies of LiArn clusters as a function of the number of argon atoms shows an approximate Rydberg character, corresponding to the picture of an excited electron surrounding an ionic cluster core, is already reached for the 3s state. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Quantum-classical determination of stable isomers of the Li*Ar_n clusters

Authors: F. Ben Salem; Ben El Hadj Rhouma Mounir

Addresses: Laboratoire d'Etudes des Milieux Ionisés et Réactifs (EMIR), Institut Préparatoire aux Etudes d'Ingénieurs Monastir, 5000, Monastir, Tunisia. ' Laboratoire d'Etudes des Milieux Ionisés et Réactifs (EMIR), Institut Préparatoire aux Etudes d'Ingénieurs Monastir, 5000, Monastir, Tunisia

Abstract: We present a quantum-classical determination of stable isomers of LiAr_n, clusters with both an electronic ground state and excited states of the lithium atom. The Li atom is perturbed by argon atoms in LiAr_n clusters. Its electronic structure obtained as the eigenfunctions of a single-electron operator describing the electron in the field of a LI⁺Ar_n core, the LI⁺ and Ar atoms are replaced by pseudo-potentials. These pseudo-potentials include core-polarisation operators to account for the polarisation and correlation of the inert core with the valence lithium electron (Rhouma et al., 2002). The geometry optimisation of the ground and excited states of LiAr_n (n = 1-12) clusters is carried out via the Basin-Hopping method of Wales et al. (Wales and Doyle, 1997; Wales and Scheraga, 1999). The geometries of the ground and ionic states of LiAr_n clusters were used to determine the energy of the high excited states of the neutral LiAr_n clusters. The variation of the excited state energies of LiAr_n clusters as a function of the number of argon atoms shows an approximate Rydberg character, corresponding to the picture of an excited electron surrounding an ionic cluster core, is already reached for the 3s state.

Keywords: alkali metal clusters; pseudo-potential methods; core-polarisation operators; basin-hopping method; Rydberg states; stable isomers; lithium atoms; argon atoms.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNP.2012.048019

International Journal of Nanoparticles, 2012 Vol.5 No.3, pp.227 - 242

Received: 16 Feb 2011
Accepted: 23 Aug 2011
Published online: 20 Aug 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article

Title: Quantum-classical determination of stable isomers of the Li*Arn clusters

Keep up-to-date

Title: Quantum-classical determination of stable isomers of the Li*Ar_n clusters