Exotic cluster decay and structure of nucleus

In this review an attempt is made to summarize the field of cluster radioactivity, with a special reference to the nuclear structure information that can be learnt from the experimental data or the one that is required for the understanding of this phenomenon theoretically. Finally, explicit nuclear structure calculations of the energy spectra and electric transitions of the decaying nucleus are presented in terms of an alternative nuclear vibron model based on the clustering picture involving both α+core and the exotic-cluster+core configurations. The success of such a calculation also strengthens the picture of preformed clusters in nuclei. (author). 32 refs., 9 figs