Investigation of the near-threshold cluster resonance in 14C

An experiment for m p(14C},14C*→10Be+α)p inelastic excitation and decay was performed in inverse kinematics at a beam energy of 25.3 MeV/u. A series of 14C excited states, including a new one at 18.3(1) MeV, were observed which decay to various states of the final nucleus of 10Be. A specially designed telescope system, installed around zero degrees, played an essential role in detecting the resonant states near the α-separation threshold. A state at 14.1(1) MeV is clearly identified, being consistent with the predicted band-head of the molecular rotational band characterized by the π-bond linear chain configuration. Further clarification of the properties of this exotic state is suggested by using appropriate reaction tools.