Squeezing a helium nanodroplet with a Rydberg electron.
We have investigated, by means of density functional theory, the structure of a "scolium", that is, an electron circulating around a positively charged 4He nanodroplet, temporarily prevented from neutralization by the helium-electron repulsion. The positive ion core resides in the center of the nanodroplet where, as a consequence of electrostriction, a strong increase in the helium density with respect to its bulk value occurs. The electron enveloping the 4He cluster exerts an additional electrostatic pressure which further increases the local 4He density around the ion core. We argue that under such pressure, sufficiently small 4He nanodroplets may turn solid. The stability of a scolium with respect to electron-ion recombination is investigated.
Ancilotto
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INFM-CNR DEMOCRITOS National Simulation Center and Dipartimento di Fisica G. Galilei, Università di Padova, via Marzolo 8, I-35131 Padova, Italy.
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Mayol
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Barranco
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Lehmann
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