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Structural trends in clusters of quadrupolar spheres
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Structural trends in clusters of quadrupolar spheres

Mark A Miller, James J Shepherd and David J Wales
Molecular Physics: A Special Issue in Honour of Professor Anthony J. Stone, Vol.106(12-13), pp.1655-1664
06/20/2008
DOI: 10.1080/00268970802270067
url
https://arxiv.org/pdf/0806.2579View
Open Access

Abstract

The influence of quadrupolar interactions on the structure of small clusters is investigated by adding a point quadrupole of variable strength to the Lennard-Jones potential. Competition arises between sheet-like arrangements of the particles, favoured by the quadrupoles, and compact structures, favoured by the isotropic Lennard-Jones attraction. Putative global potential energy minima are obtained for clusters of up to 25 particles using the basin-hopping algorithm. A number of structural motifs and growth sequences emerge, including star-like structures, tubes, shells and sheets. The results are discussed in the context of colloidal self-assembly.
self-assembly global optimisation energy landscapes clusters

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