Gammadecay of quasimolecular resonances in the12C+12C system

Shape coexistence, where different deformed minima compete within a small range of excitation energy, appears to be ubiquitous across the chart of nuclides. In many light alpha-conjugate nuclei, experimental data points to the coexistence of highly deformed nuclear configurations. It has long been suggested, with strong theoretical justification, that these deformed states are attributable to nuclear clustering based on building blocks of alpha particles. This short review will consider how well alpha clustering fits within the shape coexistence canon and point to future opportunities for experiments that can place the topic on a firmer footing.

Section: Electromagnetic Transitionsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Alpha clustering in nuclei: another form of shape coexistence?

Jenkins

2016

“…Interestingly, the authors were unable to find any correlation between the radiative capture states and the 2+ resonances known from 12C + 12C scattering studies, and so deduced that a different type of structure was being probed. However, a recent re-measurement of this reaction [12] casts doubts on this interpretation and the relation of the radiative capture states to the 12C + 12C scattering resonances remains unclear.…”

Section: Electrofision and Radiative Capturementioning

confidence: 99%

Fission of light nuclei

Fulton

Rae

1990

“…The iconic system for such resonances is 12 C+ 12 C where oscillatory behavior was first seen over fifty years ago in the fusion channel [10] and (in) elastic scattering [11]. Oscillations in the 12 C+ 12 C system have commonly been interpreted as resonances of non-statistical molecular origin on top of a statistical background [27,28].…”

Section: C+ 12 C Clusteringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Weighing the evidence for clustering in nuclei

Jenkins

Courtin

2015

Clustering in nuclei is a long-standing topic in nuclear physics. While it has attracted much experimental and theoretical attention over the years, it is a model which is still controversial in terms of whether such clustering can be clearly delineated and separated from the complexity of nuclear structure described within more conventional nuclear models. In this sense, there is still ambiguity in terms of the uniqueness and relevance of the clustering description. What is often not clearly articulated is what would provide the most compelling evidence for clustering in different contexts. As a means of illustrating these issues, two strands of this topic will be discussed: alpha clustering in light nuclei and clustering in the 12C+12C system. Recent work in these areas will be reviewed and scope for future work will be highlighted.