Progress in the studies of cluster resonances by antisymmetrized molecular dynamics

Abstract

This review reports recent advancements in the study of cluster resonances using Antisymmetrized Molecular Dynamics (AMD). Cluster states, appearing as resonances above the particle-decay threshold, are crucial for understanding exotic cluster structures and reactions. A critical aspect of these studies is the calculation of the reduced width amplitude (RWA), which has been challenging due to the complexity of nucleon exchange between clusters. We introduce two novel methods for the computation of the RWA; the Laplace expansion and norm overlap methods. They have enabled more precise and computationally efficient calculations of RWA. We introduce their successful applications to key astrophysical nuclear reactions, such as \(^{12}{\textrm{C}}+ ^{12}{{\textrm{C}}}\) and \(^{12}{\textrm{C}}+ ^{16}\textrm{O}\) fusion processes, which play a vital role in stellar environments. Furthermore, we explore how these methods have advanced the study of exotic cluster structures, including the linear chain of \(\alpha \) clusters and the \( ^{6}\textrm{He}\) cluster in light nuclei.