Anatomy of molecular structures in $^{20}$Ne

TL;DR

This study uses advanced relativistic energy density functional methods to analyze molecular structures and cluster configurations in low-spin states of $^{20}$Ne, emphasizing the effects of dynamical correlations and shape fluctuations.

Contribution

It introduces a multireference relativistic energy density functional approach with symmetry restoration and shape fluctuations to better understand $^{20}$Ne's molecular structures.

Findings

Improved reproduction of energy spectra and transition strengths.

Prediction of rotation-induced dissolution of $ ext{α}+^{16} ext{O}$ structure.

Enhanced understanding of octupole vibrational effects.

Abstract

We present a beyond mean-field study of clusters and molecular structures in low-spin states of $^{20}$Ne with a multireference relativistic energy density functional, where the dynamical correlation effects of symmetry restoration and quadrupole-octupole shapes fluctuation are taken into account with projections on parity, particle number and angular momentum in the framework of the generator coordinate method. Both the energy spectrum and the electric multipole transition strengths for low-lying parity-doublet bands are better reproduced after taking into account the dynamical octupole vibration effect. Consistent with the finding in previous studies, a rotation-induced dissolution of the $\alpha+^{16}$O molecular structure in $^{20}$Ne is predicted.