The spin-flip-induced quadrupole resonance in odd-$A$ exotic atoms

Abstract

We examine the possible existence of quadrupole resonances in exotic atoms containing odd-$A$ nuclei. We find that the spin-flip of the de-exciting exotic particle can induce a resonance, altering the orbital angular momentum of the nucleus by one quanta. This process results in an excited nucleus with a suppression in x-ray photon emissions during the exotic atom cascade. We provide specific cases of antiprotonic atoms of stable elements where this resonance effect is expected to occur. The study of this phenomena may provide insight into the strong interaction of deeply bound antiprotonic states in the proximity of the unpaired nucleon, and serve as a tool for probing short-lived excited nuclear states.