Density-driven $α$-particle clustering in neutron-rich oxygen isotopes

Abstract

In this work, we study the effect of valence neutrons on density-driven localisation in the neutron-rich oxygen isotopes. Calculations are performed within the multidimensionally constrained relativistic Hartree--Bogoliubov model using the DD-ME2 covariant energy-density functional. By constraining the mass rms radius to larger values, we study the structural evolution of these nuclei under progressive dilution, from spatially delocalised configurations to localised clustered states. The total energy, pairing correlations, deformation, and proton and neutron density distributions are analysed to determine how valence neutrons influence the emergence of $α$-like clustering. For all three isotopes, we find a transition from a spatially delocalised nucleonic configuration to a tetrahedral $4α$-like structure. The onset of this transition occurs at similar values of the radius-derived relative dilution parameter, $χ_{\mathrm{PT}}=ρ_{\mathrm{PT}}/ ρ_{\mathrm{GS}}\simeq 0.28$--$0.31$, and shows only a weak dependence on neutron number. The excess neutrons modify the clustered density by increasing the density in the central regions and between clusters, while leaving the underlying tetrahedral core structure largely intact. Finally, we also use a phenomenological four-centre Hückel-type mapping of nuclei, which provides a molecular-orbital-like interpretation of cluster structures. We find that the effective coupling between the cluster centers decreases by progressively expanding the nucleus. The centroid-referenced energy shift $ΔE_{\mathrm{val}}$ also becomes less negative and provides smaller net molecular-orbital-like energy lowering relative to its centroid with increasing neutron number.