No Arabic abstract
In the context of the search for triples of relativistic $alpha$-particles in the Hoyle state, the analysis of available data on the dissociation of the nuclei ${}^{12}$C, ${}^{16}$O and ${}^{22}$Ne in the nuclear emulsion was carried out. The Hoyle state is identified by the invariant mass calculated from pair angles of expansion in $alpha$-triples in the approximation of the conservation of the momentum per nucleon of the parent nucleus. The contribution of the Hoyle state to the dissociation of ${}^{12}$C $to$ 3$alpha$ is 11%. In the case of the coherent dissociation of ${}^{16}$O $to$ 4$alpha$ it reaches 22% when the portion of the channel ${}^{16}$O $to$ 2${}^{8}$Be is equal to 5%.
Production of $alpha$-particle triples in the Hoyle state (HS) in dissociation of ${}^{12}$C nuclei at 3.65 and 0.42 $A$ GeV in nuclear track emulsion is revealed by the invariant mass approach. Contribution of the HS to the dissociation ${}^{12}$C $to$ 3$alpha$ is (11 $pm$ 3) %. Reanalysis of data on coherent dissociation ${}^{16}$O $to$ 4$alpha$ at 3.65 $A$ GeV is revealed the HS contribution of (22 $pm$ 2) %.
Production of ensembles of $alpha$-particle triples associated with the Hoyle state (the second excited state of the ${}^{12}$C nucleus) in peripheral dissociation of relativistic ${}^{12}$C nuclei is studied. Stacks of nuclear track emulsion pellicles exposed to ${}^{12}$C with an energy from hundreds MeV to a few GeV per nucleon serve as the material for studies. The Hoyle state decays are reconstructed via measurement of emission angles of $alpha$ particles with the precision sufficient for identification of the unstable ${}^{8}$Be nucleus. The estimate of the contribution of Hoyles state to the ${}^{12}$C $to$ 3$alpha$ dissociation is 10-15%.
The dissociation of relativistic $^{12}$N nuclei having a momentum of 2 GeV/c per nucleon and undergoing the most peripheral interactions in a track emulsion is studied. The picture of charged topology of product ensembles of relativistic fragments and special features of their angular distributions are presented.
Our present understanding of the structure of the Hoyle state in $^{12}$C and other near-threshold states in $alpha$-conjugate nuclei is reviewed in the framework of the $alpha$-condensate model. The $^{12}$C Hoyle state, in particular, is a candidate for $alpha$-condensation, due to its large radius and $alpha$-cluster structure. The predicted features of nuclear $alpha$-particle condensates are reviewed along with a discussion of their experimental indicators, with a focus on precision break-up measurements. Two experiments are discussed in detail, firstly concerning the break-up of $^{12}$C and then the decays of heavier nuclei. With more theoretical input, and increasingly complex detector setups, precision break-up measurements can, in principle, provide insight into the structures of states in $alpha$-conjugate nuclei. However, the commonly-held belief that the decay of a condensate state will result in $N$ $alpha$-particles is challenged. We further conclude that unambiguously characterising excited states built on $alpha$-condensates is difficult, despite improvements in detector technology.
First results of an analysis to determine contribution of decays of the unstable $^{8}$Be and $^{9}$B nuclei and the Hoyle 3$alpha$-state to dissociation of $^{14}$N $to$ 3He (+H) are presented. As the research material, layers of nuclear track emulsion longitudinally exposed to 2.9 $A$ GeV/$c$ $^{14}$N nuclei with at the JINR Nuclotron. Under the assumption that the He and H fragments retain momentum per nucleon of the primary nucleus, these unstable states are identified by the invariant mass calculated from the emission angles of the fragments.