Whither magic numbers: a variational Monte Carlo study of six and seven atom helium clusters

Abstract

Helium clusters as a result of the dominant influence of quantum mechanics have very little in common with classical rare-gas clusters. Since classical clusters show differences in structure and stability as a function of cluster size — the more stable sizes are referred to as “magic numbers”—do any of these size differences exist in the case of helium? Variational Monte Carlo studies of six and seven atom helium clusters suggest that they do.