Characterization of exotic cluster configurations

Characterize exotic cluster configurations in alpha-conjugate nuclei, including bubble and toroidal structures, to resolve the outstanding structural questions surrounding these states.

Background

The paper situates alpha-conjugate nuclei within a broader program of investigating unusual nuclear geometries and cluster arrangements. Although several highly symmetric configurations have been identified, the authors describe the exploration and characterization of exotic cluster configurations as an unresolved fundamental question motivating continued high-precision measurements.

References

The continuous advancement of high-precision measurement methods is driven by these unresolved fundamental questions, including the exploration and characterization of such exotic cluster configurations, the potential existence of $\alpha$-cluster Bose-Einstein condensation at the nucleon level, and the critical influence of cluster structures on the nuclear equation of state (EoS) in low-density astrophysical environments.

— Signals for Nuclear Solid-Liquid Phase Transition in Clustering Nuclei  (2609.05145 - Cao et al., 4 Sep 2026) in Introduction