Signatures of alpha clustering in light nuclei from relativistic nuclear collisions

Understand

We argue that relativistic nuclear collisions may provide experimental evidence of alpha clustering in light nuclei.

• A light alpha-clustered nucleus has a large intrinsic deformation.
• When collided against a heavy nucleus at very high energies, this deformation transforms into the deformation of the fireball in the transverse plane.
• The subsequent collective evolution of the fireball leads to harmonic flow reflecting the deformation of the initial shape, which can be measured with standard methods of relativistic heavy-ion collisions.