The role of quantum and thermal fluctuations upon properties of lithium clusters

Roger Rousseau, Dominik Marx

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

The impact of quantum effects and thermal fluctuations on properties of small lithium clusters, Li8 and Li20, is investigated at low temperatures with ab initio path integrals. The static optimized structures, i.e., the minima of the potential energy surface, are characterized by packings of multicenter bonded tetrahedral building blocks featuring short and long Li-Li bonds. Quantum effects at 10 K are found to be induced by zero-point motion, whereas tunneling turns out to be irrelevant. The simulations uncover that these quantum effects destroy the distinction between short and long chemical bonds, while preserving the overall structural shape of the clusters.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5091-5101
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Chemical Physics
Volume111
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 15 1999
Externally publishedYes

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