Continuum effects in neutron-drip-line oxygen isotopes

Abstract

The binding-energy pattern along the neutron-rich oxygen chain, governed by an interplay between shell effects and many-body correlations impacted by strong couplings to one- and two-neutron continuum, make these isotopes a unique testing ground for nuclear models. In this work, we investigate ground states and low-lying excited states of $^{23-28}$O using the complex-energy Gamow Shell Model and Density Matrix Renormalization Group method with a finite-range two-body interaction optimized to the bound states and resonances of $^{23-26}$O, assuming a core of $^{22}$O. Our results suggest that the ground-state of $^{28}$O has a threshold character, i.e., is very weakly bound or slightly unbound. We also predict narrow excited resonances in $^{25}$O and $^{27}$O. The inclusion of the large continuum space significantly impacts predicted binding energies of $^{26-28}$O. This implies that the careful treatment of neutron continuum is necessary prior to assessing the spectroscopic quality of effective interactions in this region.