Electron--Vibron Interactions in Charged Buckminsterfullerene: Pair Energies and Spectra (Part II)

Abstract

The ground state energy shifts and excitation spectra of charged buckminsterfullerene C$_{60}^{n-}$, $n=1,\ldots 5$ are calculated. The electron--vibron Hamiltonian of Part I is extended to include all $A_g$ and $H_g$ modes with experimentally determined frequencies and theoretically estimated coupling constants. Complex splitting patterns of $H_g$ vibrational levels are found. Our results are relevant to EPR measurements of spin splittings in C$_{60}^{2-}$ and C$_{60}^{3-}$ in solution. Spectroscopic gas-phase experiments will be of interest for further testing of this theory. As found in Part I, degeneracies in the electron and vibron Hamiltonians give rise to a dynamical Jahn Teller effect, and to a considerable enhancement of the electronic pairing interaction. This helps to overcome repulsive Coulomb interactions and has important implications for superconductivity in K$_3$C$_{60}$ and the insulating state in K$_4$C$_{60}$.