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Ionization energies and stabilities of Na n ,n<25: shell structure from measurements on cold clusters

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Zeitschrift für Physik D Atoms, Molecules and Clusters

Abstract

The stability patterns found in alkali-atomic clusters and their explanation in terms of electronic and structural factors have been controversial for some time. Generation of very cold Na n clusters in a novel source and use of a special photoion normalization method resolve the remaining questions by allowing precise determination of photoionization thresholds. This is demonstrated here for several sizes in the 7<n<26 range, where in two crucial cases the interpretations of earlier ionization threshold measurements on oven-beam clusters [M. Kappes, M. Schär, P. Radi, and E. Schumacher, J. Chem. Phys.84, 1863 (1986)] disagreed with the explanation of the observed stability pattern. Combining the new values with the charged-cluster fragmentation energies of Bréchignac et al. [C. Bréchignac, P. Cahuzac, J. Leygnier, and J. Weiner, J. Chem. Phys.90, 1492 (1989)] yields neutral cluster fragmentation energies that successfully account for the famous “magic-number” ledges [W.D. Knight, K. Clemenger, W.A. de Heer, W.A. Saunders, M.Y. Chou, and M.L. Cohen, Phys. Rev. Lett.52, 2141 (1984)]. Our measurements offer decisive support for the applicability of the spherical/spheroidal electronic shell-model to smaller Na n clusters, even in their low-temperature form.

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Author notes

  1. J. L. Persson

    Present address: Department of Physics, Chalmers Institute of Technology, S-41296, Göteborg, Sweden

  2. E. C. Honea

    Present address: AT & T Bell Labs, 07974, Murray Hill, NJ, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Solid State Science Center, University of California, 90024, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    M. L. Homer, J. L. Persson, E. C. Honea & R. L. Whetten

  2. Department of Physics, UCLA, USA

    J. L. Persson & E. C. Honea

Authors
  1. M. L. Homer
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  2. J. L. Persson
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  3. E. C. Honea
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  4. R. L. Whetten
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Homer, M.L., Persson, J.L., Honea, E.C. et al. Ionization energies and stabilities of Na n ,n<25: shell structure from measurements on cold clusters. Z Phys D - Atoms, Molecules and Clusters 22, 441–447 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01438571

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01438571

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