Electromagnetic transitions as a probe of nuclear clustering

Abstract

Electromagnetic transitions can be considered as a complementary probe of clustering in nuclei. Through measuring the transition strength between candidate cluster states, it is possible to demonstrate the large associated nuclear deformation. This has been achieved in the case of light nuclei like 8Be where the ground state already has a strong cluster structure. In this chapter, we review a number of cases where electromagnetic transitions can be used to further our understanding of clustering, from heavy-ion radiative capture to superdeformation in alpha-conjugate nuclei. © 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland.