Cluster structure and deformed bands in the 38Ar nucleus

The structure of the 38Ar nucleus is investigated by the image orthogonality condition model (OCM). The energy spectra, electromagnetic transitions and α spectroscopic factors are calculated. The excited states can be grouped into several bands according to the leading configurations of their wave functions, and the structures of the bands are discussed. The first excited image band is found to be predominantly image cluster states. It is also shown that the observed energies and E2 transitions of the band are well reproduced by the model. The existence of a negative-parity doublet band of the band is also predicted. The strength of the α-cluster states is shown to be spread over several levels due to mixing of shell-model states and various α-cluster states.