Plasma oscillations in fullerene molecules within the random phase approximation

A method is presented for calculating the density of plasma excitation modes in fullerene molecules, which makes it possible to describe more accurately the specific features of the spectra as compared to the models proposed previously. The method is based on the inclusion of the total contribution of π and σ electrons to the spectra of collective oscillations in the molecules. This allows one to consider fullerene molecules with an arbitrary symmetry and arbitrary substituents. A comparative analysis of the experimental curves obtained for resonance electron capture and the results of numerical simulations for C₆₀, C₇₀, and C₇₆ molecules has demonstrated that not only the main maxima but also the ranges of the formation of negative ions coincide.