Search for ¹²C+¹²C clustering in ²⁴Mg ground state

In the backdrop of many models, the heavy cluster structure of the ground state of ²⁴Mg has been probed experimentally for the first time using the heavy cluster knockout reaction ²⁴Mg(¹²C, 2¹²C)¹²C in the quasifree scattering kinematic domain. In the (¹²C, 2¹²C) reaction, the direct ¹²C-knockout cross-section was found to be very small. Finite-range knockout theory predictions were much larger for (¹²C, 2¹²C) reaction, indicating a very small ¹²C-¹²C clustering in ²⁴Mg(g.s.). Our present results contradict most of the proposed heavy cluster (¹²C+¹²C) structure models for the ground state of ²⁴Mg. (author)