Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2025

Preparation and Characterization of C60/Graphene Hybrid Nanostructures
Published on: May 15, 2018
Ergodicity breaking in rapidly rotating C60 fullerenes.
Lee R Liu1,2, Dina Rosenberg1,2, P Bryan Changala1,2
1JILA, National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
We observed rotational ergodicity breaking in the large 12C60 molecule. This phenomenon, occurring below the vibrational threshold, shows transitions between ergodic and nonergodic states with increasing angular momentum.
Area of Science:
- Statistical mechanics
- Quantum dynamics
- Molecular spectroscopy
Background:
- Ergodicity is fundamental to statistical mechanics, describing a system's exploration of its phase space.
- Ergodicity breaking is crucial for understanding nonequilibrium matter and preserving quantum coherence.
- Polyatomic molecules are key for studying vibrational energy transport and ergodicity breaking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate rotational ergodicity breaking in a large molecule.
- To analyze the influence of symmetry, size, and rigidity on ergodicity.
- To explore transitions between ergodic and nonergodic dynamics in mesoscopic quantum systems.
Main Methods:
- High-resolution rovibrational spectroscopy of 12C60.
- Analysis of icosahedral fine structure.
- Theoretical modeling of energy transport and phase space exploration.
Main Results:
- Observed rotational ergodicity breaking in 12C60.
- Ergodicity breaking occurred below the vibrational ergodicity threshold.
- Multiple transitions between ergodic and nonergodic regimes were identified with increasing angular momentum.
Conclusions:
- The unique properties of 12C60 lead to complex rotational dynamics.
- Rotational ergodicity breaking in large molecules offers new insights into quantum chaos.
- This study highlights the relevance of 12C60 for mesoscopic quantum systems and emergent phenomena.
More Related Videos
08:44Measurements of Long-range Electronic Correlations During Femtosecond Diffraction Experiments Performed on Nanocrystals of Buckminsterfullerene
Published on: August 22, 2017
10:35Novel Techniques for Observing Structural Dynamics of Photoresponsive Liquid Crystals
Published on: May 29, 2018
Related Concept Videos
¹H NMR of Conformationally Flexible Molecules: Temporal Resolution
Stability of Substituted Cyclohexanes
The two chair conformations of cyclohexanes undergo rapid interconversion at room temperature. Both forms have identical energies and stabilities, each comprising equal amounts of the equilibrium mixture. Replacing a hydrogen atom with a functional group makes the two conformations energetically non-equivalent.
For example, in...
Chair Conformation of Cyclohexane
The hydrogen atoms linked to carbons are arranged in two different axial and equatorial orientations to achieve this...
Thermal and Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Overview
Woodward–Hoffmann Selection Rules and Microscopic Reversibility
Conformations of Cyclohexane
The chair form is the most stable and derives its name from its resemblance to the “easy chair.” In the chair conformation, two carbon atoms are arranged out-of-plane — one above and one below, minimizing the torsional strain. In the chair form, the bond angle is very close to the ideal...