Quantum fluctuations of $D_{5d}$ polarons on $C_{60}$ molecules

TL;DR

This paper investigates quantum fluctuations of $D_{5d}$ polarons on $C_{60}$ molecules, revealing tunneling-induced level splittings that could be experimentally observed, using the Bogoliubov-de Gennes formalism.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed theoretical analysis of Jahn-Teller splitting and quantum fluctuations of polarons on $C_{60}$, providing predictions for observable level splittings.

Findings

Tunneling induces specific level splittings in $C_{60}^{1-}$ and $C_{60}^{2-}$.

Predicted splittings are $^2 T_{1u} igoplus ^2 T_{2u}$ and $^1 A_g igoplus ^1 H_g$.

Observable effects in experiments are expected due to these splittings.

Abstract

The dynamic Jahn-Teller splitting of the six equivalent $D_{5d}$ polarons due to quantum fluctuations is studied in the framework of the Bogoliubov-de Gennes formalism. The tunneling induced level splittings are determined to be $^2 T_{1u} \bigoplus ^2 T_{2u}$ and $^1 A_g \bigoplus ^1 H_g$ for $C_{60}^{1-}$ and $C_{60}^{2-}$, respectively, which should give rise to observable effects in experiments.