# Cluster structure of light nuclei

## TL;DR

This paper reviews recent theoretical studies on the cluster structures of light nuclei, highlighting symmetry patterns and comparing calculations with experimental data to identify underlying geometric configurations.

## Contribution

It introduces analytic symmetry-based models for light nuclei and compares their predictions with experiments, revealing specific symmetry groups in various nuclei.

## Key findings

- Evidence for Z_2, D_{3h}, T_d symmetries in 8Be, 12C, 16O
- Identification of double groups Z'_2, D'_{3h} in 9Be, 9B, 13C
- Analytic models align with experimental observations

## Abstract

We review recent studies of the cluster structure of light nuclei within the framework of the algebraic cluster model (ACM) for nuclei composed of k alpha-particles and within the framework of the cluster shell model (CSM) for nuclei composed of k alpha-particles plus x additional nucleons. The calculations, based on symmetry considerations and thus for the most part given in analytic form, are compared with experiments in light cluster nuclei. The comparison shows evidence for Z_2, D_{3h} and T_d symmetry in the even-even nuclei 8Be (k=2), 12C (k=3) and 16O (k=4), respectively, and for the associated double groups Z'_2 and D'_{3h} in the odd nuclei 9Be, 9B (k=2, x=1) and 13C (k=3, x=1), respectively.