Electric deflection studies of rhodium clusters

The electric susceptibilities of rhodium clusters (Rh$_{n}$, n=5-32) have been studied via a DC molecular beam deflection technique. It is observed that all clusters are high-field seekers, indicating that the induced dipole moments are larger than any small permanent dipole moments that may be present. The per atom polarizabilities determined from the beam deflections exceed the classical value. Rh$_{7}$ and Rh$_{10}$ exhibit per- atom polarizabilities that are both anomalously large and temperature dependent. Peak broadening is most pronounced for Rh$_{7}$, indicating the presence of a small permanent dipole moment. It is proposed that the anomalous polarizabilities exhibited by Rh$_{7}$ and Rh$_{10}$ are a consequence of their being dynamic Jahn-Teller molecules.