Demonstration of the Universality of Molecular Structures in Prolate Deformed Nuclei

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that all prolate deformed nuclear cluster structures inherently possess molecular orbitals, linking the deformed harmonic oscillator model to molecular clustering phenomena across various nuclei.

Contribution

It establishes a universal connection between deformed harmonic oscillator properties and molecular orbitals in prolate deformed nuclei, supported by multiple nuclear examples.

Findings

Strong correlation between valence orbitals and molecular orbitals in deformed nuclei

Universal presence of molecular orbitals in all prolate deformed cluster structures

Examples range from carbon-13 to nickel-57 confirming the theory

Abstract

The relationship between the deformed harmonic oscillator and the formation of molecular cluster structures, whereby valence neutrons are exchanged between cluster cores, is examined. It is found that there is a strong connection between the properties of the valence orbitals associated with deformed structures in the deformed harmonic oscillator and the molecular orbitals created by linear combinations of single-centre orbitals around nuclear clusters. The conclusion is that in addition to the appearance of clustering in the deformed harmonic oscillator that \emph{every} prolate deformed cluster structure should have molecular orbitals built on that structure. This is demonstrated through a series of examples that range from $^{13}$C to $^{57}$Ni.