Shape of 13C studied by the real-time evolution method

TL;DR

This study uses a microscopic real-time evolution method to analyze the shape and symmetry of 13C, confirming a triangular alpha cluster structure in its ground state without assuming symmetry beforehand.

Contribution

It applies the real-time evolution method to 13C, providing a microscopic analysis that confirms the triangular shape of the ground state without prior symmetry assumptions.

Findings

Ground state has approximate triangular symmetry.

Excited states deviate from triangular symmetry.

Model describes low-lying states more accurately.

Abstract

Background : Recently, Bijker et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 122, 162501 (2019)] explained the rotation-vibration spectrum of 13C by assuming triangular nuclear shape with D'3h symmetry. Purpose : The purpose of this work is to test the shape and symmetry of 13C based on a microscopic nuclear model without assumption of nuclear shape. Method : We have applied the real-time evolution method to 13C. By using the equation-of-motion of clusters, the model describes the 3alpha+n system without any assumption of symmetry. Results : REM described the low-lying states more accurately than the previous cluster model studies. The analysis of the wave functions showed that the ground band has approximate triangular symmetry, while the excited bands deviate from it. Conclusion : This work confirmed that the ground band has the intrinsic structure with the triangular arrangement of three alpha particles.