Long-range correlations in small atomic clusters

Abstract

We study the power spectrum of fluctuations in the potential energy of atoms in small rare-gas clusters. At temperatures when the cluster is in a liquid-like state the spectra have a “1/f” dependence over a wide range of frequency f. This behavior is distinctly different from both the solid phase of clusters or bulk liquid, and is indicative of long-range temporal correlations. The origins of this phenomenon is explored by studying the individual potential-energy distributions in pure and mixed rare-gas clusters, Xe₅₅ and ArXe₅₄, via molecular dynamics simulations. Substitution of atomic impurities acts as an effective probe of the dynamics, and we observe that long-lived memory effects have their origins in hierarchical relaxation processes arising in the motion of the atoms from the surface to the core and vice-versa.