Toward understanding the microscopic origin of nuclear clustering

TL;DR

This paper explores the microscopic origins of nuclear clustering, emphasizing the role of open quantum system dynamics and continuum effects in the emergence of alpha-clustering near nuclear thresholds.

Contribution

It introduces an approach using the Continuum Shell Model to analyze how collective phenomena like clustering arise from particle continuum interactions.

Findings

Nuclear clustering is an emergent near-threshold phenomenon.

Exceptional Points in the continuum shell model are key to understanding clustering.

Continuum effects are essential for explaining nuclear collective behavior.

Abstract

Open Quantum System (OQS) description of a many-body system involves interaction of Shell Model (SM) states through the particle continuum. In realistic nuclear applications, this interaction may lead to collective phenomena in the ensemble of SM states. We claim that the nuclear clustering is an emergent, near-threshold phenomenon, which cannot be elucidated within the Closed Quantum System (CQS) framework. We approach this problem by investigating the near-threshold behavior of Exceptional Points (EPs) in the realistic Continuum Shell Model (CSM). The consequences for the alpha-clustering phenomenon are discussed.