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Subshell Stability in Superatomic Clusters and the Formation of Stable Magnetic Motifs
Deepak Kumar1, Arthur C Reber1, Shiv N Khanna1
1Physics Department, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23284-2000, United States.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry. A
|March 9, 2026
Summary
Clusters with half-filled quantum shells show enhanced stability, enabling the creation of magnetic species. This discovery paves the way for designing novel magnetic nanoassemblies with adjustable properties.
Area of Science:
- Quantum physics
- Materials science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Symmetric clusters organize quantum states into shells, with filled shells conferring enhanced stability.
- The stability and properties associated with half-filled shells remain largely unexplored in cluster science.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the energetic stability of clusters with half-filled quantum shells.
- To explore the potential of half-filled shells in forming magnetic species and nanoassemblies.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of various cluster types to assess stability.
- Examination of electronic structures to identify magnetic properties arising from subshell configurations.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that half-filled shells significantly enhance the energetic stability of clusters.
- Showcased the formation of stable magnetic species through subshells with different quantum numbers.
Conclusions:
- Half-filled shells offer a new pathway to enhanced cluster stability.
- Stable magnetic units formed from half-filled subshells enable the development of tunable magnetic nanoassemblies with controlled magnetic anisotropy.
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