Quantum fluctuations of $D_{5d}$ polarons on $C_{60}$ molecules

Abstract

The dynamic Jahn-Teller splitting of the six equivalent $D_{5d}$ polarons due to quantum fluctuations is studied in the framework of the Bogoliubov-de Gennes formalism. The tunneling induced level splittings are determined to be $^2 T_{1u} \bigoplus ^2 T_{2u}$ and $^1 A_g \bigoplus ^1 H_g$ for $C_{60}^{1-}$ and $C_{60}^{2-}$, respectively, which should give rise to observable effects in experiments.