| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/S43894/01 |
| Title: |
Reorientational dynamics and Jahn-Teller activity in fullerenes |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dunn, Dr JL |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Sch of Physics & Astronomy |
| Organisation: |
University of Nottingham |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 October 2003 |
Ends: |
30 September 2006 |
Value (£): |
164,635
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Chemical Structure |
Condensed Matter Physics |
| Materials Characterisation |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Materials containing negatively-charged buckminsterfullerene (C60) ions have shown great promise in the search for high temperature superconductivity. The mechanism for superconductivity in these compounds is still poorly understood, although it is a widely believed that coupling between the electronic and nuclear motions plays an important role. Unfortunately, quantitative values for the vibronic coupling strengths in the different charge states are essentially unknown.One of the effects of vibronic coupling is that at any given instant, the highly symmetric C60 molecule will be distorted into one of a set of equivalent lower-symmetry configurations. The system will interconvert or'pseudorotate' between these equivalent configurations via quantum-mechanical tunnelling at a rate that will depend on the strength of the vibronic coupling. This motion should be discernible on a femtosecond timescale. Our aim is to perform ultrafast optical experiments that are capable of detecting this motion. In parallel, we will develop appropriate theory to interpret the experimental results and relate tunnelling rates to vibronic coupling constants. We will then be able use the experimental results to understand the complex dynamics of the C60 molecule and to make an accurate assessment of the strength of the vibronic coupling in the C60 derivatives.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/~ppzjld/Ultrafast_dynamics.htm |
| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk |