Dineutron clusters

Abstract The dineutron is a spatially compact two-neutron cluster, which is expected to appear in a low-density part of nuclei. In recent years, there has been rapid progress in experimental and theoretical research on dineutron clusters, particularly on neutron-rich rare isotopes. Experimentally, evidence for dineutron in two-neutron halo nuclei, such as $$^{11}$$ 11 Li, has been obtained using Coulomb breakup, measurements of charge radii, and quasi-free proton scattering. Specific unbound nuclei just beyond the neutron drip line, which decay by emitting two neutrons, are also candidates for having a dineutron correlation. For instance, the dineutron structure has recently been investigated for $$^{16}$$ 16 Be, focusing on its decay into the core and the two neutrons. Theoretically, it is shown that the dineutron is partially due to the admixture of different-parity configurations for the two valence neutrons. Few-body theories, including dynamical effects of the decay process, play important roles in interpreting three-body decays. We also discuss the four-neutron clusters, showing the experimental results of recent tetraneutron experiments and observation of $$^{28}$$ 28 O. Possible relevance of these states to dineutron correlation is discussed. Finally, we discuss future perspectives on dineutron clusters in neutron-rich nuclei and their relation to the universal features in few-body physics.