Energy and entropy barriers of two-level systems in argon clusters: an energy landscape approach

Authors
Pilla, O Viliani, G Brangian, C
Citation
O. Pilla et al., Energy and entropy barriers of two-level systems in argon clusters: an energy landscape approach, PHIL MAG B, 79(11-12), 1999, pp. 1965-1970
Citations number
13
Categorie Soggetti
Apllied Physucs/Condensed Matter/Materiales Science
Journal title
PHILOSOPHICAL MAGAZINE B-PHYSICS OF CONDENSED MATTER STATISTICAL MECHANICSELECTRONIC OPTICAL AND MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
ISSN journal
13642812 → ACNP
Volume
79
Issue
11-12
Year of publication
1999
Pages
1965 - 1970
Database
ISI
SICI code
1364-2812(199911/12)79:11-12<1965:EAEBOT>2.0.ZU;2-
Abstract
Free argon clusters containing up to 160 atoms have been studied by means o f a numerical algorithm for finding thousands of adjacent minima connected through a first-order saddle point. Many minimum-saddle-minimum systems hav e been found to be good candidates for forming two-level systems. The groun d state splitting has been evaluated by taking into account both energy and entropy barriers. The role of the latter in quenching or enhancing the gro und state splitting is discussed with the aid of a simple model potential.