Metastable spin-polarized carbon clusters C_8 and their ensembles

TL;DR

This study uses tight-binding calculations to explore metastable spin-polarized C_8 carbon clusters and their ensembles, revealing stability patterns and potential for forming novel 'cluster matter' with specific spin states.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of spin-polarized C_8 clusters forming stable ensembles with unique stability properties, expanding understanding of carbon cluster behavior.

Findings

Binding energy decreases with total spin S.

Activation energy shows maxima at specific S values.

Certain spin states enhance ensemble stability.

Abstract

Results of tight-binding calculations on metastable spin-polarized carbon clusters C_8 (prismanes) are presented. It is shown that those clusters can form ensembles due to intercluster bonding. The binding energy of a given metastable configuration decreases monotonously with the total spin S, while the activation energy for the decay of a metastable state has distinct maxima as a function of S. For specific values of S, the dynamical stability of spin-polarized ensembles of prismanes appears to be higher than that of an isolated prismane, pointing to a possibility of existence of "cluster matter" composed of spin-polarized clusters C_8