Mass spectrometric evidence for icosahedral structure in large rare gas clusters: Ar, Kr, Xe

摘要: Clusters of argon, krypton, and xenon are grown in a free jet ionized by electron impact. The size these clusters, (Rg)+n, extends up to n≂1000. Individual cluster sizes mass resolved n≂570 the case Ar+n. well known, but puzzling differences distributions Kr Xe clusters disappear beyond n≂130, while those between Ar n≂220. most pronounced ‘‘magic numbers’’ large ions occur at n=147 (148 for Ar), 309, 561, striking agreement with number atoms required build icosahedral 3, 4, 5 complete coordination shells, respectively. Closure 6th shell is indicated another strong intensity drop n≂923 unresolved part spectra. Several additional extrema observed major closures. A simple structural model, assuming an core decorated atoms, accounts anomalies reasonably n=561.