Binding two and three $\alpha$ particles in cold neutron matter

Abstract

We elucidate the fate of neighboring two and three-$\alpha$ particles in cold neutron matter by focusing on an analogy between such $\alpha$ systems and Fermi polarons realized in ultracold atoms. We describe in-medium excitation properties of an $\alpha$ particle and neutron-mediated two- and three-$\alpha$ interactions using theoretical approaches developed for studies of cold atomic systems. We numerically solve the few-body Schrödinger equation of $\alpha$ particles within standard $\alpha$ cluster models combined with in-medium properties of $\alpha$ particles. We point out that the resultant two-$\alpha$ ground state and three-$\alpha$ first excited state, which correspond to ${}^8$Be and the Hoyle state, respectively, known as main components in the triple-$\alpha$ reaction, can become bound states in such a many-neutron background although these states are unstable in vacuum. Our results suggest a significance of these in-medium cluster states not only in astrophysical environments such as core-collapsed supernova explosions and neutron star mergers but also in neutron-rich nuclei.

arXiv comment9 pages, 5 figures

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• Intersections of ultracold atomic polarons and nuclear clusters: How is a chart of nuclides modified in dilute neutron matter?
• Medium-induced bosonic clusters in a Bose-Fermi mixture: Towards simulating cluster formations in neutron-rich matter
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• Structure of two- and three-alpha systems in cold neutron matter