https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2009-00071-3
Stability of two-component alkali clusters formed on helium nanodroplets
1
Fakultät für Physik, Universität Bielefeld, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
2
Physikalisches Institut, Universität Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
3
Max-Born-Institut, Berlin, Germany
Corresponding author: a mudrich@physik.uni-freiburg.de
Received:
19
September
2008
Published online:
6
March
2009
The stability of two-component clusters consisting of light (Na or K) and heavy (Rb or Cs) alkali atoms formed on helium nanodroplets is studied by femtosecond laser ionization in combination with mass spectrometry. Characteristic stability patterns reflecting electron shell-closures are observed in dependence of the total number of atoms contained in the mixed clusters. Faster decay of the stability of mixed clusters compared to the pure light ones as a function of size indicates a destabilizing effect of heavy alkali atoms on light alkali clusters, presumably due to second order spin-orbit interaction.
PACS: 36.40.Qv – Stability and fragmentation of clusters / 36.40.Cg – Electronic and magnetic properties of clusters / 71.30.+h – Metal–insulator transitions and other electronic transitions
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 2009
