We investigate the degree of $\alpha$ (${}^4\mathrm{He}$ nucleus) clustering in the ground-state density profiles of ${}^{44}\mathrm{Ti}$ and ${}^{52}\mathrm{Ti}$. Two types of density distributions, shell- and cluster-model configurations, are generated fully microscopically with the antisymmetrized quasi-cluster model, which can describe both the $j-j$ coupling shell and $\alpha$-cluster configurations in a single scheme. Despite both the models reproducing measured charge radius data, we found that the $\alpha$ clustering significantly diffuses the density profiles near the nuclear surface compared to the ideal $j-j$ coupling shell-model configuration. The effect is most significant for ${}^{44}\mathrm{Ti}$, while it is less for ${}^{52}\mathrm{Ti}$ due to the occupation of the $0f_{7/2}$ orbits in the ${}^{48}\mathrm{Ca}$ core. This difference can be detected by measuring proton-nucleus elastic scattering or the total reaction cross section on a carbon target at intermediate energies.

• Received 23 August 2022
• Accepted 19 October 2022

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.106.044330