No Arabic abstract
In this contribution, we present evidence for the occurrence of triangular symmetry in cluster nuclei. We discuss the structure of rotational bands for 3-alpha and 3-alpha+1 configurations with triangular D(3h) symmetry by exploiting the double group D(3h), and study the application to 12C and 13C. The structure of rotational bands can be used as a fingerprint of the underlying geometric configuration of alpha-particles.
We derive the rotation-vibration spectrum of a 3alpha+1 neutron (proton) configuration with triangular D(3h) symmetry by exploiting the properties of the double group D(3h), and show evidence for this symmetry to occur in the rotation-vibration spectra of 13C. Our results, based on purely symmetry considerations, provide benchmarks for microscopic calculations of the cluster structure of light nuclei.
It is shown that the rotational band structure of the cluster states in 12C and 16O can be understood in terms of the underlying discrete symmetry that characterizes the geometrical configuration of the alpha-particles, i.e. an equilateral triangle for 12C, and a regular tetrahedron for 16O. The structure of rotational bands provides a fingerprint of the underlying geometrical configuration of alpha-particles. Finally, some first results are presented for odd-cluster nuclei.
We review recent studies of the cluster structure of light nuclei within the framework of the algebraic cluster model (ACM) for nuclei composed of k alpha-particles and within the framework of the cluster shell model (CSM) for nuclei composed of k alpha-particles plus x additional nucleons. The calculations, based on symmetry considerations and thus for the most part given in analytic form, are compared with experiments in light cluster nuclei. The comparison shows evidence for Z_2, D_{3h} and T_d symmetry in the even-even nuclei 8Be (k=2), 12C (k=3) and 16O (k=4), respectively, and for the associated double groups Z_2 and D_{3h} in the odd nuclei 9Be, 9B (k=2, x=1) and 13C (k=3, x=1), respectively.
After recapitulating the procedure to find the bands and the states occurring in the $mathcal{D}_{3h}$ alpha-cluster model of $^{12}$C in which the clusters are placed at the vertexes of an equilateral triangle, we obtain the selection rules for electromagnetic transitions. While the alpha cluster structure leads to the cancellation of E1 transitions, the approximations carried out in deriving the roto-vibrational hamiltonian lead to the disappearance of M1 transitions. Furthermore, although in general the lowest active modes are E2, E3, $cdots$ and M2, M3, $cdots$, the cancellation of M2, M3 and M5 transitions between certain bands also occurs, as a result of the application of group theoretical techniques drawn from molecular physics. These implications can be very relevant for the spectroscopic analysis of $gamma$-ray spectra of $^{12}$C.
In this contribution, we present the cluster shell model which is analogous to the Nilsson model, but for cluster potentials. Special attention is paid to the consequences of the discrete symmetries of three alpha-particles in an equilateral triangle configuration. This configuration is characterized by a special structure of the rotational bands which can be used as a fingerprint of the underlying geometric configuration. The cluster shell model is applied to the nucleus 13C.