Plasmonic breathing modes in $\rm C_{60}$ molecules -- A quantum hydrodynamic approach

Abstract

We propose and illustrate a quantum hydrodynamic (QHD) model for the description of plasmonic oscillations in the $\rm C_{60}$ molecule. Although simpler than competing approaches such as time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT), the model contains the key ingredients to characterize plasmonic modes, namely the Hartree, exchange and correlation potentials, as well as nonlocal, nonlinear and quantum effects to the lowest order. A variational technique is used to solve analytically the QHD model for the case of breathing (monopolar) plasmonic oscillations, revealing a bulk mode near the plasmon frequency. Numerical simulations of both the QHD equations and a TDDFT model confirm the existence of this mode and highlight a second collective mode at lower energy. Such monopolar modes may be measured experimentally using electron energy loss spectroscopy.