Existence of nuclear molecule cluster states in palladium isotopes

Establish whether palladium isotopes support reasonably stable nuclear molecule cluster states analogous to those identified in light nuclei (e.g., 24Mg), and characterize their excitation energies, lifetimes, quantum numbers, and magnetic‑quadrupole (M2) transition strengths from the palladium ground state that are relevant to excitation transfer in the proposed solid‑state fusion framework.

Background

The paper discusses nuclear molecule (cluster) states, which have been studied in lighter systems such as 12C + 12C forming 24Mg, and motivates their role as long‑lived, highly excited receiver states in palladium. A simple model presented predicts numerous non‑rotational binary cluster states with lifetimes extending well beyond one second.

However, comprehensive experimental data for palladium isotopes are lacking. Confirming the existence, properties, and accessible transitions of such cluster states in palladium is crucial for evaluating their role in the authors’ excitation‑transfer mechanism and its observable consequences.