Evidence for Triangular D'(3h) Symmetry in 13C

Abstract

We derive the rotation-vibration spectrum of a 3alpha+1 neutron (proton) configuration with triangular D(3h) symmetry by exploiting the properties of the double group D'(3h), and show evidence for this symmetry to occur in the rotation-vibration spectra of 13C. Our results, based on purely symmetry considerations, provide benchmarks for microscopic calculations of the cluster structure of light nuclei.

Comments: 5 pages, 6 figures, 1 table, final version, accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters (2019)