Close-packing structure of small barium clusters

Abstract

Barium clusters are produced by the inert-gas condensation technique. The observed size distribution shows large peaks at n=13, 19, 23, 26, 29, 32, as well for singly charged clusters as for doubly and triply charged clusters. These results can be interpreted by icosahedral close-packing structures, similar to those observed in noble-gas clusters.