Phase transitions for rotational states within an algebraic cluster model

TL;DR

This paper applies catastrophe theory to the Semimicroscopic Algebraic Cluster Model to analyze phase transitions in rotational states, using 16O+alpha to 20Ne as a test case, revealing insights into nuclear structure changes.

Contribution

It introduces a novel application of catastrophe theory to the SACM for studying phase transitions in nuclear rotational states.

Findings

Identification of phase transition points in the SACM

Analysis of ground and excited state transitions

Application to the 16O+alpha to 20Ne system

Abstract

The catastrophe theory, an effective method for the description of phase transitions, is applied to the Semimicroscopic Algebraic Cluster Model (SACM) as an example of a non-trivial theory. The ground state and excited, rotational phase transitions are investigated. A short introduction to the SACM and the catastrophe theory is given. We apply the formalism to the test case of 16O+alpha-->20Ne.