α-cluster structure of 12C and 16O in the covariant density functional theory with a shell-model-like approach

Abstract

The α-cluster structures for 12C and 16O are investigated in the framework of the covariant density functional theory, where the pairing correlation is treated with a particle number conserving shell-model-like approach. The ground states of 12C and 16O have been calculated and the density distributions demonstrate an equilateral triangle 3α clustering for 12C and a regular tetrahedron 4α clustering for 16O. The existence of linear nα chain structure of both 12C and 16O is revealed at high quadrupole deformation.