Ab-initio study of localization of an excess electron in sodium halide clusters

The equilibrium geometries of Na _n F _n and Na _n F _n?1 are optimized forn=2, 3, 4 at the SCF level. The Na _n F _n molecules appear as formed by Na⁺ and F^? ions. The paper studies the localization of the excess electron in the Na _n F _n?1 molecules. Na _n F _n?1 is obtained by removing from Na _n F _n a fluorine atom, and the excess electron takes the place of this lacking center, and allows a weak bond between the neighbouring Na atoms. Secondary minimum geometries, for which the excess electron has no defined place, are also studied.