Path-integral molecular dynamics simulations of BeO embedded in helium clusters: Formation of the stable HeBeO complex

Abstract

Path-integral molecular dynamics simulations have been performed to understand the quantum helium solvation structures in the He n BeO cluster up to n = 100. Our simulations show that one helium atom is strongly bound to BeO to form HeBeO and that the first solvation shell around the HeBeO complex includes roughly 12–14 helium atoms. The second solvation structure was also observed for n > 20. Both the first and second solvation shells show an anisotropic behavior but the anisotropy for the second solvation shell was found to be much weaker than that for the first solvation shell, as expected. The present simulations suggest that the HeBeO complex may be formed in large helium clusters.