A microscopic three-cluster model in the hyperspherical formalism Original Research Article

The hyperspherical formalism is applied in the framework of the microscopic generator-coordinate method. Three-cluster systems are described with a single generator coordinate, the hyperradius. This model is a natural extension of previous microscopic theories, and can be applied to bound states and resonances in a range of nuclei exhibiting a cluster structure. As an illustrative example, the model is applied to 6He and 6Li. Density distributions and electric dipole transition strengths are calculated, including B(E2;0+→2+) in 6He. The results are consistent with a neutron halo structure for the ground state of 6He, and with a proton–neutron halo structure of its isobaric analog state in 6Li. No 1− “soft dipole” resonance is found in 6He.