Quantum State–Resolved Structure and Dynamics of C60 Fullerenes

The C₆₀ fullerene molecule has been the subject of intense study for four
decades, starting with its identification in the mass spectra of carbon soot in
1985. In this review, we focus on the achievement of ultra-high-resolution
spectroscopy of gas phase neutral C₆₀, heralded by the observation of quan-
tum state–resolved infrared spectra in 2019. C₆₀ is now the largest and most
symmetric molecule for which rovibrational quantum state resolution has
been achieved, motivating the use of large molecules for studying com-