Search for decays of the $^{9}$B nucleus and Hoyle state in $^{14}$N nucleus dissociation

TL;DR

This study investigates the decay contributions of unstable nuclei and the Hoyle state in the dissociation of $^{14}$N nuclei using nuclear track emulsion exposed to high-energy beams, identifying these states via invariant mass calculations.

Contribution

First analysis to identify decay contributions of $^{8}$Be, $^{9}$B, and the Hoyle state in $^{14}$N dissociation using invariant mass from emission angles.

Findings

Identification of decay contributions of unstable states in $^{14}$N dissociation.

Application of invariant mass method to nuclear fragment analysis.

Experimental evidence supporting decay pathways of $^{14}$N.

Abstract

First results of an analysis to determine contribution of decays of the unstable $^{8}$Be and $^{9}$B nuclei and the Hoyle 3$\alpha$-state to dissociation of $^{14}$N $\to$ 3He (+H) are presented. As the research material, layers of nuclear track emulsion longitudinally exposed to 2.9 $A$ GeV/$c$ $^{14}$N nuclei with at the JINR Nuclotron. Under the assumption that the He and H fragments retain momentum per nucleon of the primary nucleus, these unstable states are identified by the invariant mass calculated from the emission angles of the fragments.