https://doi.org/10.1140/epja/s10050-025-01530-8
Review
Clustering in nuclei and hadrons
1
Research Center for Nuclear Physics, Osaka University, 567-0047, Ibaraki, Osaka, Japan
2
Advanced Science Research Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, 319-1195, Tokai, Ibaraki, Japan
3
Department of Physics, Kyoto University, 606-8502, Kyoto, Japan
4
Department of Physics, Nagoya University, 464-8602, Nagoya, Japan
5
Kobayashi-Maskawa Institute for the Origin of Particles and the Universe, Nagoya University, 464-8602, Nagoya, Japan
6
Meson Science Laboratory, Cluster for Pioneering Research, RIKEN, 351-0198, Wako, Saitama, Japan
Received:
6
November
2024
Accepted:
1
March
2025
Published online:
13
May
2025
Clustering phenomena in hadron and nuclear systems are overviewed. Because the energy scales for hadron and nuclear systems are not very much different, we can apply similar ideas and methods for the study of the seemingly different two systems, with the key ingredient, cluster. Once clusters are formed, they develop low lying excitations near the threshold if suitable interaction is available. This is a universal phenomenon which has been known as the threshold-rule. For nuclear systems the most established is the alpha (
-)cluster which is the nucleus of 
. How the -clusters develop in nuclei of light-medium mass region, typically 
is discussed in a microscopic manner based on the antisymmetrized molecular dynamics. The evidences of such clustering in some static properties of nuclei and scattering phenomena are discussed. Similar clustering phenomena occur for hadrons, where quark clusters are developed in either colored or colorless channels which are considered to play an important role for exotic hadrons of multi-quarks. In particular colorless hadronic clusters can be good constituents to form molecular-like structure near threshold regions.
© The Author(s) 2025
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