Eur. Phys. J. D 11, 435-448 (2000)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s100530070071

Local field corrections for light absorption by fullerenes

Aarhus Center for Atomic Physics, Institute of Physics and Astronomy, University of Aarhus, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark

Received: 22 November 1999
Revised: 27 March 2000
Published online: 15 September 2000

Abstract

With the aim of analysing measurements of absorption of electromagnetic radiation by fullerene molecules in the gas phase, in liquid solution, and in solid films, we consider the classical problem of correction for enhancement of the local field due to polarisation of the medium. We argue that for crystalline films the Clausius-Mossotti relation between the molecular polarisability and the dielectric function of the medium should be reasonably accurate, despite the fact that the polarised fullerene molecules are far from being point dipoles. For fullerene molecules in solution, the field derived by Onsager from a cavity model should be a good approximation, and we discuss and correct errors in earlier developments of this model. Owing to the large polarisability of fullerenes, the local field corrections are very important, leading to large changes in the relative strength of absorption lines and also to small shifts in the positions of these lines. Application of the corrections leads to improved consistency between measurements in the gas phase, in solution, and in the solid.