Recent Experimental Results on Nuclear Cluster Physics

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent experimental advances in nuclear cluster physics, highlighting discoveries of exotic shapes, alpha condensates, and the evolution of clustering in light nuclei, extending classical models to neutron-rich systems.

Contribution

It presents new experimental findings on exotic nuclear shapes and clustering phenomena, extending the Ikeda diagram to non alpha-conjugate nuclei and neutron-rich isotopes.

Findings

Discovery of 12C+12C resonances

Evidence for Bose-Einstein alpha condensates

Clustering persists in neutron-rich nuclei

Abstract

Knowledge on nuclear cluster physics has increased considerably since the pioneering discovery of 12C+12C resonances half a century ago and nuclear clustering remains one of the most fruitful domains of nuclear physics, facing some of the greatest challenges and opportunities in the years ahead. The occurrence of "exotic" shapes and/or Bose-Einstein alpha condensates in light N-Z alpha-conjugate nuclei is investigated. Evolution of clustering from stability to the drip-lines examined with clustering aspects persisting in light neutron-rich nuclei is consistent with the extension of the "Ikeda-diagram" to non alpha-conjugate nuclei.