Electric dipole polarizabilities of Ni[sub 12–58].

The electric dipole polarizabilities of Ni[sub 12]–Ni[sub 58] have been measured via a molecular beam deflection experiment. The majority of the clusters display polarizabilities α between 4 and 6 Å[sup 3] per atom, below the atomic value of 6.8 Å[sup 3] and above that predicted for ideal conducting spheres. Local extrema in α/atom are observed for certain Ni[sub n]. In particular, those clusters that adopt closely packed or quasispherical structures (e.g., Ni[sub 38], Ni[sub 55]) display local minima, while Ni[sub 21], Ni[sub 22], Ni[sub 25], and Ni[sub 49–54], each an icosahedron or polyicosahedron with “missing” atoms, display anomalously high values. The relationship between the polarizabilities of nickel clusters and their shapes and structures is discussed. © 2001 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]