Analysis of resonances in 8Be using polarized α-particles

The band of resonances in 8Be starting at 20.1 MeV is investigated both from a scattering and a bound-state point of view. The scattering description is appropriate for studying the decay properties and the bound-state approach is best suited to reveal the structure of the states. A model is proposed including α-clustering and polarization of the α-particles as generator coordinates. It is shown that the generator coordinate method is a very versatile tool for making an analysis of the connection between the scattering and structure descriptions. The probability integral and widths of quasibound states are readily calculated. The connection between the scattering wave functions and quasibound and transit states is established. It is shown that the resonances are α + αsup(*) configurations and the approximate selection rule causing their long lifetime is identified. (orig.)