Probing clustering in excited alpha-conjugate buclei

Abstract

The fragmentation of quasi-projectiles from the nuclear reaction ${}^{40}$Ca+${}^{12}$C at 25 MeV per nucleon bombarding energy was used to produce $\hat{I}\pm$-emission sources. From a careful selection of these sources provided by a complete detection and from comparisons with models of sequential and simultaneous decays, evidence in favor of $\hat{I}\pm$-particle clustering from excited ${}^{16}O$, ${}^{20}Ne$ and ${}^{24}Mg$ is reported.

15 pages, 6 figures, accepted in Physics Letters B