Antisymmetrized molecular dynamics studies for exotic clustering phenomena in neutron-rich nuclei

TL;DR

This review discusses recent antisymmetrized molecular dynamics studies revealing novel neutron-rich clustering phenomena, including molecule-like structures and their experimental signatures in unstable nuclei.

Contribution

It summarizes advances in AMD modeling of exotic clustering phenomena, especially the molecular-orbit picture and its experimental validation in neutron-rich nuclei.

Findings

Clustering in neutron-rich nuclei is influenced by excess neutrons.

Molecular-orbit picture explains low-lying spectra of Be isotopes.

Monopole and dipole transitions serve as probes for clustering.

Abstract

We present a review of recent works on clustering phenomena in unstable nuclei studied by antisymmetrized molecular dynamics (AMD). The AMD studies in these decades have uncovered novel types of clustering phenomena brought about by the excess neutrons. Among them, this review focuses on the molecule-like structure of unstable nuclei. One of the earliest discussions on the clustering in unstable nuclei was made for neutron-rich Be and B isotopes. AMD calculations predicted that the ground state clustering is enhanced or reduced depending on the number of excess neutrons. Today, the experiments are confirming this prediction as the change of the proton radii. Behind this enhancement and reduction of the clustering, there are underlying shell effects called molecular- and atomic-orbits. These orbits form covalent and ionic bonding of the clusters analogous to the atomic molecules. It was found that this "molecular-orbit picture" reasonably explains the low-lying spectra of Be isotopes. The molecular-orbit picture is extended to other systems having parity asymmetric cluster cores and to the three cluster systems. O and Ne isotopes are the candidates of the former, while the $3\alpha$ linear chains in C isotopes are the latter. For both subjects, many intensive studies are now in progress. We also pay a special attention to the observables which are the fingerprint of the clustering. In particular, we focus on the monopole and dipole transitions which are recently regarded as good probe for the clustering. We discuss how they have and will reveal the exotic clustering.