Hoyle band and $\alpha$ condensation in ${^{12}{\rm C}}$

TL;DR

This study investigates the excited states of carbon-12 using an advanced wave function approach, revealing gaslike 3-alpha cluster structures and challenging previous rigid-body rotation models of the Hoyle band.

Contribution

The paper introduces an extended THSR wave function including both condensate and cluster configurations, providing new insights into the structure of carbon-12 excited states.

Findings

Reproduces resonance parameters and decay properties of excited states.

Identifies gaslike 3-alpha cluster configurations with larger radii.

Challenges the rigid-body rotation interpretation of the Hoyle band.

Abstract

The excited states in ${^{12}{\rm C}}$ are investigated by using an extended version of the so-called Tohsaki-Horiuchi- Schuck-R\"opke (THSR) wave function, where both the $3\alpha$ condensate and ${^{8}{\rm Be}} + \alpha$ cluster asymptotic configurations are included. A new method is also used to resolve spurious continuum coupling with physical states. We focus on the structures of the "Hoyle band" states, $2_2^+$, and $4_2^+$ states, which are recently observed above the Hoyle state and of the $0_3^+$ and $0_4^+$ states, which are also quite recently identified in experiment. Their resonance parameters and decay properties are reasonably reproduced. All these states have gaslike configurations of the $3\alpha$ clusters with larger root mean square radii than that of the Hoyle state. The Hoyle band is not simply considered to be the ${^{8}{\rm Be}}(0^+) +\alpha$ rotation as suggested by previous cluster model calculations, nor to be a rotation of a rigid-body triangle-shaped object composed of the $3\alpha$ particles. This is mainly due to the specificity of the Hoyle state, which has the $3\alpha$ condensate structure and gives a rise to the $0_3^+$ state with a prominent ${^{8}{\rm Be}}(0^+)+\alpha$ structure as a result of very strong monopole excitation from the Hoyle state.