Vibrations of atoms in the argon cluster surrounding a single-walled carbon nanotube—MD study

We have performed atomically detailed molecular dynamics simulation of the system composed of an argon cluster ðn ¼ 110; 250; 560Þ forming a film which surrounds a single-walled (10,10) carbon nanotube. Opposite to the recent finding in the system of a fullerene covered with spherical argon film [J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 15 (2003) 2399], we have found no liquid-like phase in this system. Instead, movements of the argon atoms are found to be well localized in the whole range of temperatures in which the cluster retains its integrity. The vibrational modes of the argon atoms belonging to different layers of the cluster are analyzed. q 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved