Cluster formations in deformed states for $^{28}$Si and $^{32}$S

TL;DR

This paper investigates cluster formations in highly deformed states of $^{28}$Si and $^{32}$S using a macroscopic-microscopic model, revealing how deformation and angular momentum influence cluster structures and molecular resonance states.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of deformation-dependent energy surfaces and links microscopic density distributions to observed cluster and molecular resonance states.

Findings

Strongly deformed minima appear at high angular momenta.

Density distributions show cluster structures resembling $^{16}$O+$^{12}$C and $^{16}$O+$^{16}$O.

Valleys in energy surfaces correspond to target-projectile configurations.

Abstract

We study cluster formation in strongly deformed states for $^{28}$Si and $^{32}$S using a macroscopic-microscopic model. The study is based on calculated total-energy surfaces, which are the sums of deformation-dependent macroscopic-microscopic potential-energy surfaces and rotational-energy contributions. We analyze the angular-momentum-dependent total-energy surfaces and identify the normal- and super-deformed states in $^{28}$Si and $^{32}$S, respectively. We show that at sufficiently high angular momenta strongly deformed minima appear. The corresponding microscopic density distributions show cluster structure that closely resemble the $^{16}$O+$^{12}$C and $^{16}$O+$^{16}$O configurations. At still higher deformations, beyond the minima, valleys develop in the calculated surfaces. These valleys lead to mass divisions that correspond to the target-projectile configurations for which molecular resonance states have been observed. We discuss the relation between the one-body deformed minima and the two-body molecular-resonance states.