Molecular structure in deformed neutron-rich light nuclei

Nuclear clustering based on α-particles and strongly bound substructures with N = Z has been studied for many decades. Of particular interest are excited states close to the decay thresholds into substructures, as described by the Ikeda diagram. This diagram can be extended to neutron-rich nuclei, in these cases strongly deformed isomeric states consisting of clusters and losely bound neutrons will appear. A possible approach to describe these states is to use explicitly molecular concepts, with neutrons in covalent binding orbits. Examples for molecular structure in beryllium isotopes and in other neutron-rich light nuclei (carbon and neon) are discussed. (author)