Nucleon-plus-alpha-particle model for the ground state energies of neutron-rich light nuclei

Based on the simple picture that light nuclei consist of α-particles and valence nucleons, a three-parameter formula is derived for the ground state energies of neutron-rich light even-Z nuclei relative to the energies of the underlying α-particle nuclei. For twenty nuclei from ⁵He to ²⁴Ne the formula reproduces these energies with an rms deviation of a few percent. The nucleon-plus-α-particle model is discussed in the light of most recent data on the internal structure of nuclei and nucleons.