$\alpha+{}^2n+{}^2n$ 3-body cluster structures and dineutron breaking in ${}^8 \mathrm{He}$

TL;DR

This study investigates the cluster structures and dineutron breaking in ${}^8$He, revealing the importance of $ ext{alpha}+{}^2n+{}^2n$ configurations and monopole excitations through microscopic modeling.

Contribution

It provides a detailed microscopic analysis of ${}^8$He cluster structures, including dineutron breaking effects, and reproduces experimental properties with a novel cluster model.

Findings

The $0_2^+$ state has a developed cluster structure.

Significant ${}^2n$ breaking components influence energy and size.

Monopole excitation is a radial excitation similar to ${}^{12}$C.

Abstract

The $0_2^+$ state of ${}^8\mathrm{He}$ has been discovered by a recent experiment, which suggested a developed cluster structure of spatially correlated neutron pairs, called "dineutrons" (${}^2n$). We aim to investigate the structure of ${}^8\mathrm{He}(0^+_1)$ and ${}^8\mathrm{He}(0^+_2)$ to clarify the monopole excitation mode in ${}^8\mathrm{He}$ system while focusing on the $\alpha+{}^2n+{}^2n$ cluster structures and the breaking of ${}^2n$ clusters. We apply a microscopic cluster model with the generator coordinate method for the $\alpha+{}^2n+{}^2n$ cluster and ${}^6\mathrm{He}+{}^2n$ cluster dynamics. The $p_{3/2}$-closure component, which is induced by the spin-orbit force, is also incorporated. The present calculation reasonably reproduces the experimental data of the properties of ${}^8\mathrm{He}$, such as $2n$ and $4n$ separation energies, energy spectra, and radii. The spatially developed cluster structure of the $0_2^+$ state is obtained. The $0_1^+$ and $0_2^+$ states have dominant components of $\alpha+{}^2n+{}^2n$ 3-body cluster, but contain significant ${}^2n$ breaking components which contribute to the energy gain and size shrinking of the ${}^8\mathrm{He}$ system. The monopole excitation in ${}^8\mathrm{He}$ is regarded as a radial excitation, which is similar to that in ${}^{12}\mathrm{C}$. The $\alpha+{}^2n+{}^2n$ cluster structures play a dominant role in ${}^8\mathrm{He}(0_{1,2}^+)$, and the mixing of the dineutron breaking contributes to significant structural effects.