Absolute stability limit for relativistic charged spheres

We find an exact solution for the stability limit of relativistic charged spheres for the case of constant gravitational mass density and constant charge density. We argue that this provides an absolute stability limit for any relativistic charged sphere in which the gravitational mass density decreases with radius and the charge density increases with radius. We then provide a cruder absolute stability limit that applies to any charged sphere with a spherically symmetric mass and charge distribution. We give numerical results for all cases. In addition, we discuss the example of a neutral sphere surrounded by a thin, charged shell.     

Evidence for highly charged ion Coulomb crystallization in multicomponent strongly coupled plasmas

Multicomponent non-neutral ion plasmas in a Penning trap consisting of Be(+) and highly charged Xe ions, having different mass-to-charge ratios than Be(+), are cooled to form strongly coupled plasmas by applying a laser-based collisional cooling scheme. The temperature of the plasma was determined from a Doppler broadened transition in Be(+). For the Xe ions, which are centrifugally separated from the Be, the Coulomb coupling parameter was estimated to be approximately 1000. Molecular dynamics simulations of the ion mixture show ordered structures, indicating crystallization of the Xe.     

Coulomb instability of charged clusters

A model different from the Rayleigh model for Coulomb instability of charged metallic clusters is proposed. The two-component model of a metallic cluster in the quasi-classical approximation offers different critical charges depending on the type of charged particles. For small-sized parallelepiped clusters, the quantization of the electronic spectrum is taken into account. The critical sizes of Ag _N ^2? and Ag _N ^3? clusters are calculated in the framework of the proposed model. The results of calculations are in good agreement with experimental data. The Coulomb explosion of positively charged clusters Na _N ⁿ⁺ at 3≤n≤5 is explained qualitatively.     

The Coulomb explosion of charged drops

In the framework of the density functional theory using a simple variational model we have calculated the first-order size corrections to electro-physical characteristics of small metal particles. We have discovered that the curvature correction to the surface energy is of positive sign. We have shown that it is possible to use macroscopic electrodynamics in calculations of the ionization potential and the electron affinity. We have determined the maximum charge which can be retained by a particle of a given size.     

Effect of collective response on electron capture and excitation in collisions of highly charged ions with fullerenes

Projectile deexcitation Lyman x-ray emission following electron capture and K excitation has been studied in collisions of bare and Li-like sulphur ions (of energy 110 MeV) with fullerenes (C(60)/C(70)) and different gaseous targets. The intensity ratios of different Lyman x-ray lines in collisions with fullerenes are found to be substantially lower than those for the gas targets, both for capture and excitation. This has been explained in terms of a model based on "solidlike" effect, namely, wakefield induced stark mixing of the excited states populated via electron capture or K excitation: a collective phenomenon of plasmon excitation in the fullerenes under the influence of heavy, highly charged ions.     

Observation of doubly charged lead clusters below the critical size limit for Coulomb explosion of sphere configurations

Doubly charged lead clusters Pb₇²⁺, Pb₉²⁺, Pb₁₁²⁺ and Pb₁₃²⁺, far below the critical size for Coulomb explosion of par ticles with sphere like configurations (Pb₃₀) have been detected in time of flight mass spectra. Their existence can be explained by chain-like clusters.     

A computational study of entropy rules for charged fullerenes

Thermochemical data on fullerenes are relatively scarce. However, some thermochemical information can be derived from gas-phase experiments using the Knudsen cell mass spectrometry method. The third-law treatment can be carried out on the observed data, though one has to make the crucial presumption that the change in the thermodynamic potential ΔΦ _T ^o in the course of the reactions considered is negligible: ΔΦ _T ^o =0. It would be difficult to check the presumption directly in the experiment, but it can be checked computationally. Model reactions like C₆₀+ ₇₀ ^? = ₆₀ ^? +₇₀ are selected. The change in the thermodynamic potential ΔΦ _T ^o and the change in the standard entropy ΔS _T ^o are computed. For example, at a temperature of T=1000 K, the standard changes for the reaction evaluated using the SAM1 method are ΔΦ _T ^o =1.513 cal/(mol K) and ΔS _T ^o =?0.054 cal/(mol K). Overall, the computations support the critical thermodynamic presumption.     

Fusion of 60Ni + 100Mo near and below the Coulomb barrier

Various sub-barrier capture reactions with ^16,18O and ^40,48Ca are treated within the quantum diffusion approach. The role of neutron transfer in these capture reactions is discussed. The quasielastic and capture barrier distributions are analyzed and compared with the recent experimental data.     

On the molecular limit of Coulomb gases

We give a partially new analysis of the molecular nature of matter. A key feature is a property of the Coulomb potential as ³ is decomposed into simplices. A further application thereof is given in an appendix.     

Coulomb self-energy of a uniformly charged three-dimensional cylinder

We calculate exactly the Coulomb self-energy of a uniformly charged three-dimensional cylinder. We derive a general analytical formula which, in the limit of zero length, gives also the correct result for the Coulomb self-energy of a uniformly charged two-dimensional disk. The exact analytical expression that we derive can be used in models that incorporate finite thickness effects in studies of two-dimensional electronic systems in the fractional quantum Hall regime as well as models that describe cylindrical beams of charged particles, certain colloidal suspensions of charged rigid rod-like particles and biological systems consisting of macromolecules with cylindrical symmetry.     

Electronic properties of charged fullerenes characterized by EPR and Vis-NIR spectroscopy

EPR and Vis-NIR absorption spectra have both been measured for clarification of contradictory statements about the para-and diamagnetic states of fullerenes. Thereby identification of one sharp EPR signal in solution at room temperature to C ₆₀ ^? (g=2.000±4.0001; ΔB=0.07±0.01 mT) could be made upon using different fullerene sources (TechnoCarbo, Hoechst) and methods of anion generation (chemically, electrochemically, and photochemically). This fact is also supported by the similar observation for a monosubstituted derivative (g=1.9999; ΔB=0.10 mT), in which a small broadening of this sharp signal is found originating from additional¹H hyperfine interactions. Furthermore theg-values of the radical anions of C₆₀ increase with charge (g(C ₆₀ ^? <g(C ₆₀ ^2? ) < <g(C ₆₀ ^3? ) <g(C ₆₀ ^5? )) indicating largest contributions from spin-orbit coupling for the monoanion. No diamagnetic states for the dianions of [60]- and [70]- fullerenes could be found so far but biradical species with largest zero field splittingsD=2.7 mT (C ₆₀ ^2? ), andD=3.1 mT (C ₇₀ ^2? ), respectively. The cation formation of C₆₀ (g=2.0023-2.0029; ΔB=0.15-0.20 mT) with antimony pentachloride was controlled by mass spectrometry. Stable cations were found only in methylenechloride. In other solvents like toluene addition reactions seem to occur.     

X-ray spectra induced in highly charged 40Arq+ interacting with Au surface

By use of optical spectrum technology, the spectra of X-ray induced by highly charged 40Arq+ ions interacting with Au surface have been studied. The results show that the argon Kα X-ray were emitted from the hollow atoms formed below the surface. There is a process of multi-electron exciting in neutralization of the Ar16+ion, with electronic configuration 1s2 in its ground state below the solid surface. The yield of the projectile Kα X-ray is related to its initial electronic configuration, and the yield of the target X-ray is related to the projectile kinetic energy.     

Neutralization of charged fullerenes during grazing scattering from a metal surface

The neutralization of C(60)(+) and C(60)(2+) fullerenes with keV energies is studied for grazing scattering from a clean and flat Al(001) surface. From the measured shifts between the angular distributions for scattered projectiles of different incident charge, we derive image-charge interaction energies, which relate to the distances of electron transfer for C(60)(+) and C(60)(2+). These neutralization distances are in accord with a classical over-the-barrier model taking into account the image-charge effects of the Al target and the polarization of the fullerene.     

Highly charged clusters of fullerenes: charge mobility and appearance sizes

Clusters of fullerenes (C60,C70)(n) are produced in a gas aggregation source and are multiply ionized in collisions with highly charged Xe(20+,30+) ions. Their stabilities and decay processes are analyzed with high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Fullerene clusters in charge states up to q=5 have been observed and appearance sizes are found to be as small as n(app)=5, 10, 21, and 33 for q=2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively. The analysis of the multicoincident fragmentation spectra indicates a high charge mobility. This is in contrast to charge localization effects which have been reported for Ar(q+)(n) rare gas clusters. Clusters of fullerenes are found to be conducting when multiply charged.     

Many-body effects in the highly excited state of fullerenes

The highly excited state of fullerenes is characterised by a luminescence output which is dependent on the cube of the input intensity. This nonlinear emission is red shifted from the low-level emission and has a long, intensity dependent lifetime. Under similar irradiation conditions, the photoconductive response is seen to increase with the cube of the input intensity and the photocurrent in the highly excited state is observed to be largely independent of temperature, contrasting sharply with the thermally activated behaviour at low excitation densities. The degree of nonlinearity of the observed phenomena exclude an interpretation in terms of intra-molecular processes and the temperature dependence of the photoconductive response is suggestive of a Mott-like transition. The nonlinear behaviour is compared to that of indirect band-gap semiconductors in which the origin of similar nonlinear phenomena in the highly excited state luminescence and photoconductivity are explained in terms of electron-hole droplet formation. The similarities of the behaviours leads to a consideration of exchange and correlation energies in fullerenes, which are calculated according to a phenomenological model. Estimates of the contributions are consistent with a Mott-like transition at high excitation densities and an excess exchange/correlation energy in the highly excited state of 150 meV.