DIPOLE STATES IN THE DEUTERON, OTHER EXOTIC NUCLEI, AND SCHRODINGER-CAT

The question whether the ''soft giant dipole modes'' in halo nuclei ar e resonances is discussed. It is argued that a resonance picture of th ese modes can be envisaged with a non Breit-Wigner line shape. The dip ole Coulomb breakup of the deuteron is worked out as a specific exampl e of such a picture. The ''soft'' and ''hard'' dipole modes of the mor e complex neutron-rich exotic nuclei are treated from this point of vi ew. An interpretation of the coherent production of these modes in Cou lomb excitation as a nuclear instance of Schrodinger cat state is adva nced.