Theoretical research will be conducted in a number of areas of statistical physics. The orientational ordering of icosahedral fullerene molecules will be studied using mean field theory. Intermolecular potentials will be studied which can explain the orientationally ordered structure and from which a calculation of the librational excitation spectrum can be undertaken. This will help explain future inelastic neutron scattering experiments. Research will also be done on the way quantum fluctuations select a ground state out of a manifold of states which classically would be degenerate. This work will be based on the use of degenerate perturbation theory to construct an effective interaction mediated by quantum fluctuations. Additional research, motivated by the magnetic properties of the copper oxide materials, will be done on the effects of various types of localized magnetic defects at low defect densities. Work will also be done on interpreting the observed properties of antiferromagnets on a kagome lattice by using high temperature expansions. %%% A variety of projects will be undertaken in condensed matter physics using statistical mechanics techniques. These projects have to do with the recently discovered solid carbon-sixty and the copper oxide high temperature superconductors. These condensed matter systems pose difficult and intriguing problems which push the limits of conventional condensed matter theory and, at the same time, hold high potential for real applications. Successful completion of this work will provide a significant contribution to this field.
