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Potential absence of observed π2 linear-chain structures in O14 via C10(α,α) resonant scattering

J. Bishop1,*, A. Hollands1, Tz. Kokolova1, G. V. Rogachev2,3,4, C. Wheldon1, E. Aboud2,3,†, S. Ahn2,‡, M. Barbui2, N. Curtis1 et al.

J. Hooker2,3,§, C. Hunt2,3,∥, H. Jayatissa2,3,§, E. Koshchiy2,¶, S. Pirrie1, B. T. Roeder2, A. Saastamoinen2, and S. Upadhyayula2,3,†

  • *Contact author: j.bishop.2@bham.ac.uk
  • †Current Address: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA.
  • ‡Current Address: Center for Exotic Nuclear Studies, Institute for Basic Science, 34126 Daejeon, South Korea.
  • §Current Address: Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA.
  • ∥Current Address: Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA.
  • Deceased.
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Phys. Rev. C 112, 054318 – Published 19 November, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/phgw-fxym

Abstract

Background: The preference for light nuclear systems to coagulate into α-particle clusters has been well-studied. The possibility of a linear chain configuration of α particles would allow for a new way to study this phenomenon.

Purpose: A rotational band of states in C14 has been claimed showing a π2 linear chain structure. The mirror system, O14, has been studied here to examine how this linear chain structure is affected by replacing the valence neutrons with protons.

Method: A beam of C10 was incident into a chamber filled with He:CO2 gas with the tracks recorded inside the TexAT Time Projection Chamber and the recoil α particles detected by a silicon detector array to measure the C10(α,α) cross section.

Results: The experimental cross section was compared with previous studies and fit using R-matrix theory with the previously observed O14 states being transformed to the C14 using mirror symmetry. The measured cross section does not replicate the claimed states, with the predicted cross section exceeding that observed at several energies and angles.

Conclusion: A series of possibilities is highlighted, with the most likely being that the originally seen C14 states did not constitute a π2 rotational band with a potentially incorrect spin assignment due to the limitations of the angular-correlation method with nonzero-spin particles. The work highlights the difficulties in measuring broad resonances corresponding to a linear chain state in a high level density.

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Phys. Rev. C 112, 054318– Published 19 November, 2025
  • Received 4 June 2025
  • Accepted 30 September 2025
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