Alpha-particle condensation in excited 12C

TL;DR

This study investigates potential alpha-particle condensation in excited states of carbon-12 by analyzing nuclear fragmentation data, identifying events consistent with simultaneous alpha emission indicative of condensation.

Contribution

It introduces a novel experimental approach combining high granularity detection and correlation techniques to identify alpha condensation signatures in excited carbon-12 states.

Findings

Identification of events consistent with alpha condensation in $^{12}$C

Use of correlation functions as a fingerprint for alpha condensation

Evidence supporting the existence of alpha-particle condensation in excited states

Abstract

The fragmentation of quasi-projectiles from the nuclear reaction $^{40}Ca$+$^{12}C$ at 25 MeV/nucleon was used to produce excited states candidates to $\alpha$-particle condensation. The methodology relies on high granularity 4$\pi$ detection coupled to correlation function techniques. Under the assumption that the equality among the kinetic energies of the emitted $\alpha$-particles and the emission simultaneity constitutes a reliable fingerprint of $\alpha$ condensation, we identify several tens of events corresponding to the deexcitation of the Hoyle state of $^{12}$C which fulfill the condition.