9 pags.; 10 figs.; 4 tabs.Helium clusters doped with electronically excited atomic and molecular helium anions He∗− and He∗−
2 at T = 0.4 K are studied by means of path integral Monte Carlo calculations. Geometry and energetics
of the systems with up to 32 solvating He atoms are characterised. The interactions between the
anions and the neutral He atoms have been described by fitting previously reported ab initio points to
analytical expressions. The HeN–He∗− clusters with N > 6 display a structure defined by a bipyramid
which completely solvates the atomic anion, whereas the rest of surrounding He atoms form a dimple
around that initial cage. On the contrary, the structures observed for the HeN–He∗−2 clusters clearly
show the dopant located outside the helium droplet, thereby confirming the heliophobic character of
He∗− 2. C 2015 AIP Publishing LLCThis work has been supported by MICINN Grant No.
FIS2011-29596-C02-01. R.R.-C. acknowledges funding from
Grant No. JAE-Pre-2010-01277. F.A.G. acknowledges several
helpful discussions with A. Mauracher and thanks him for
providing us with the original computed ab initio points for
the He–dopant interactionsPeer Reviewe
