Splitting of single-particle levels in clusters potentials

In analogy with the Nilsson model, we calculate the splitting of spherical single-particle levels in a deformed field, but for cluster potentials. We study applications to alpha-cluster nuclei with two, three and four alpha particles, in which the deformation corresponds to the relative distance between the alpha particles. The splitting of the single-particle levels is studied for the cases of a dumbbell, equilateral triangle and a regular tetrahedron. The observed patterns may be used to gain insight into how the single-particle levels evolve with deformation.