Dipole states in the deuteron, other exotic nuclei, and “Schrödinger’s Cat”

Abstract

The question whether the “soft giant dipole modes” in alo nuclei are resonances is discussed. It is argued that a resonance picture of these modes can be envisaged with a non Breit-Wigner line shape. The dipole Coulomb breakup of the deuteron is worked out as a specific example of such a picture. The “soft” and “hard” dipole modes of the more complex neutron-rich exotic nuclei are treated from this point of view. An interpretation of the coherent production of these modes in Coulomb excitation as a nuclear instance of Schrodinger cat state is advanced.