We study cluster formation in strongly deformed states for ${}^{28}\mathrm{Si}$ and ${}^{32}\mathrm{S}$ using a macroscopic-microscopic model. The study is based on calculated total-energy surfaces, which are the sums of deformation-dependent macroscopic-microscopic potential-energy surfaces and rotational-energy contributions. We analyze the angular-momentum-dependent total-energy surfaces and identify the normal- and superdeformed states in ${}^{28}\mathrm{Si}$ and ${}^{32}\mathrm{S}$. We show that at sufficiently high angular momenta strongly deformed minima appear. The corresponding microscopic density distributions show cluster structures that closely resemble the ${}^{16}\mathrm{O}$ $+$ ${}^{12}\mathrm{C}$ and ${}^{16}\mathrm{O}$ $+$ ${}^{16}\mathrm{O}$ configurations. At still higher deformations, beyond the minima, valleys develop in the calculated surfaces. These valleys lead to mass divisions that correspond to the target-projectile configurations for which molecular resonance states have been observed. We discuss the relation between the one-body deformed minima and the two-body molecular-resonance states.

• Received 20 December 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.83.054319