Alkali atoms confined to a sphere and to a fullerene cage

Abstract

A simple asymptotically correct model potential is considered for the valence electron in an alkali atom. Superposed with the confining infinite barrier potential, this potential yields the energies of various states and the dipole polarizability of the ground state of the confined alkali atom. Superposed with the fullerene shell potential, this potential yields the energies of the alkali atom inside a fullerene cage. Numerical results are presented for Li, Na, K, Rb, and Cs under such confinements. PACS Nos.: 03.65.Ge, 73.21.La, 78.67.Hc