Observation of Multiple Ordered Solvation Shells in Doped Helium Droplets: The Case of He_NCa².

ABSTRACT: In this Letter, we report the experimental detection of likely the largest ordered structure of helium atoms surrounding a monatomic impurity observed to date using a recently developed technique. The mass spectrometry investigation of He_NCa²⁺ clusters, formed in multiply charged helium nanodroplets, reveals magic numbers at N = 12, 32, 44, and 74. Classical optimization and path integral Monte Carlo calculations suggest the existence of up to four shells surrounding the calcium dication which are closed with well-ordered Mozartkugel-like structures: He₁₂Ca²⁺ with an icosahedron, the second at He₃₂Ca²⁺ with a dodecahedron, the third at He₄₄Ca²⁺ with a larger icosahedron, and finally for He

SUBMITTER: Zunzunegui-Bru E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10084467 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature