Rotational wavepacket dynamics of the C-60 molecule

The wavepacket dynamics of (non-stationary) rotational quantum states of th e C-60 molecule are investigated. It is demonstrated that the icosahedral s ymmetry of this molecule gives rise to a variety of peculiar coherence phen omena which are characteristic for this specific discrete symmetry group. O n the one hand, the dynamics of these wavepackets reflects the underlying c lassical dynamics on the associated manifold of group space. On the other h and, these dynamics also exhibit characteristic quantum features such as th e appearance of fractional revivals, of quantum tunnelling between differen t classically accessible regions of the associated manifold of group space and of cat-like quantum states which are generated in the course of the tim e evolution.