Electron elastic scattering off endohedral fullerenes A@C60: The initial insight

TL;DR

This paper presents a theoretical study of electron elastic scattering off endohedral fullerenes A@C60, revealing weaker scattering compared to empty C60 and sensitivity to the atom's spin, providing initial insights for future research.

Contribution

It introduces a simplified potential model to analyze electron scattering off A@C60 and highlights the effects of the encapsulated atom's properties on scattering behavior.

Findings

Weaker scattering off A@C60 compared to empty C60.

Scattering sensitivity to the spin of the encapsulated atom.

Provides qualitative basis for future experimental and theoretical studies.

Abstract

The initial insight into electron elastic scattering off endohedral fullerenes A@C60 is gained in the framework of a theoretical approach where the C60 cage is modelled by a rectangular (in the radial coordinate) potential well, as in many other A@C60 studies. The effect of a noticeably weaker electron elastic scattering off A@C60 compared to that off empty C60 or even the isolated atom A itself, as well as a strong sensitivity of e + A@C60 scattering to the spin of the captured atom A are unraveled, for certain kinds of atoms. Obtained results lay out the initial qualitative basis for identifying interesting measurements and/or more rigorous calculations of e + A@C60 elastic scattering to perform.