Supersolidity of $α$ cluster structure in $^{40}$Ca

Abstract

$α$ cluster structure in nuclei has been long understood based on the geometrical configuration picture. By using the spatially localized Brink $α$ cluster model in the generator coordinate method, it is shown that the $α$ cluster structure has the apparently opposing duality of crystallinity and condensation, a property of supersolids. To study the condensation aspects of the $α$ cluster structure a field theoretical superfluid cluster model (SCM) is introduced, in which the order parameter of condensation is incorporated by treating rigorously the Nambu-Goldstone mode due to spontaneous symmetry breaking of the global phase. The $α$ cluster structure of $^{40}$Ca, which has been understood in the crystallinity picture, is studied by the SCM with ten $α$ clusters. It is found that the $α$ cluster structure of $^{40}$Ca is reproduced by the SCM in addition to $^{12}$C reported in a previous paper, which gives support to the duality of the $α$ cluster structure. The emergence of the mysterious $0^+$ state at the lowest excitation energy near the $α$ threshold energy is understood to be a manifestation of the Nambu-Goldstone zero mode, a soft mode, due to the condensation aspect of the duality similar to the Hoyle state in $^{12}$C. The duality of $α$ cluster structure with incompatible crystallinity and coherent wave nature due to condensation is the consequence of the Pauli principle, which causes clustering.