Semiclassical analysis of the lowest-order multipole deformations of simple metal clusters

Abstract

We use a perturbative semiclassical trace formula to calculate the three lowest-order multipole (quadrupole $\eps_2$, octupole $\eps_3$, and hexadecapole $\eps_4$) deformations of simple metal clusters with $90 \le N \le 550$ atoms in their ground states. The self-consistent mean field of the valence electrons is modeled by an axially deformed cavity and the oscillating part of the total energy is calculated semiclassically using the shortest periodic orbits. The average energy is obtained from a liquid-drop model adjusted to the empirical bulk and surface properties of the sodium metal. We obtain good qualitative agreement with the results of quantum-mechanical calculations using Strutinsky's shell-correction method.