# On the existence of Rydberg nuclear molecules

## TL;DR

This paper explores the theoretical possibility and potential stability of Rydberg nuclear molecules, exotic halo nuclei configurations analogous to atomic Rydberg molecules, which could be more common than previously thought.

## Contribution

It proposes the existence of Rydberg nuclear molecules, analyzes potential candidates, and suggests they might be stable and prevalent near the nuclear dripline.

## Key findings

- Rydberg nuclear molecules could be stable and common.
- Potential candidates like 11Be + 11Be are identified.
- Multiple methods support the plausibility of these exotic structures.

## Abstract

Present nuclear detection techniques prevents us from determining if the analogue of a Rydberg molecule exists for the nuclear case. But nothing in nature disallows their existence. As in the atomic case, Rydberg nuclear molecules would be a laboratory for new aspects and applications of nuclear physics. We propose that Rydberg nuclear molecules, which represent the exotic, halo nuclei version, such as 11Be + 11Be, of the well known quasimolecules observed in stable nuclei such as 12C + 12C, might be common structures that could manifest their existence along the dripline. A study of possible candidates and the expected structure of such exotic clustering of two halo nuclei: the Rydberg nuclear molecules, is made on the basis of three diferent methods. It is shown that such cluster structures might be stable and unexpectedly common.