Prof. Steven T. Manson
Dept. of Physics & Astronomy
Georgia State University
An atom A confined in a fullerene Cn (A@Cn) is a representative of the simplest class of nanostructures. Theoretical studies of the at various levels of approximation have been undertaken to understand the response of these caged atoms to ionizing radiation, with particular emphasis upon how the atomic properties are altered by the confinement. Results to date exhibit a number of new phenomena including confinement resonances, massive oscillator strength transfer, and hybridization that are absent for free atoms. Possible applications of this new genre of nanostructures will be discussed.