Photoionization of C60: Effects of Correlation on Cross Sections and Angular Distributions of Valence Subshells

Calculations of the photoionization cross section and asymmetry parameter, β, are performed at the density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) levels for all 32 valence levels of C60. Accurate numerical results are obtained for the isolated molecule in icosahedral symmetry. A detailed analysis based on the comparison between the DFT and TDDFT results allows the identification of four types of resonances: the well-known confinement resonances of mainly geometrical origin, shape resonances native to the ionization channel, induced shape resonances, and autoionization resonances brought about by interchannel coupling, as well as their different prominence in cross section or asymmetry parameter. Generally, cross sections are enhanced at the TDDFT level, which includes contribution from the bound-state excitations from closed channels, neglected at the DFT level, and the effect persists even well above the highest ionization threshold. This effect is best seen in the total cross section, although not as dramatic as found from simpler models, probably due to the stiffer electronic structure inherent in the full molecular description. The effects of interchannel coupling on individual native resonances are rather less predictable, leading to both enhancement and decreases and often altering the details of the structure significantly. A comparison with the previous accurate total cross-sectional calculations, as well as with the available experimental data, is very good for cross sections but slightly inferior for β’s. The results reported can serve as a reference to compare the effects of different environments on C60, as well as chemical substitution, notably endohedral fullerenes.