Statistical measures applied to metal clusters: evidence of magic numbers

TL;DR

This paper uses statistical measures like complexity and Fisher-Shannon information on a shell model of metal clusters to identify magic numbers, revealing structural insights similar to atomic nuclei.

Contribution

It introduces a statistical analysis approach to metal clusters, demonstrating the effectiveness of complexity and Fisher-Shannon information in detecting magic numbers.

Findings

Statistical complexity increases with valence electrons.

Fisher-Shannon information highlights magic numbers.

Shell structure influences statistical measures.

Abstract

In this work, a shell model for metal clusters up to 220 valence electrons is used to obtain the fractional occupation probabilities of the electronic orbitals. Then, the calculation of a statistical measure of complexity and the Fisher-Shannon information is carried out. An increase of both magnitudes with the number of valence electrons is observed. The shell structure is reflected by the behavior of the statistical complexity. The magic numbers are indicated by the Fisher-Shannon information. So, as in the case of atomic nuclei, the study of statistical indicators also unveil the existence of magic numbers in metal clusters.