Considering a Xe atom endohedrally confined in $C_{60}$, we predict the formation of another type of atom-fullerene hybrid states. These dimer-type states arise from the near degeneracy of inner levels in contrast to the known overlap-induced hybrid states around the Fermi level of smaller compounds. The photoionization cross sections of these hybrid states exhibit rich structures and are radically different from the cross sections of free atomic or fullerene states.

• Received 21 January 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.79.061201