We search for low-lying resonances in the B8 and Li8 nuclei using a
microscopic cluster model and a variational scattering method, which is
analytically continued to complex energies. After fine-tuning the
nucleon-nucleon interaction to get the known 1+ state of B8 at the right
energy, we reproduce the known spectra of the studied nuclei. In addition, our
model predicts a 1+ state at 1.3 MeV in B8, relative to the Be7+p threshold,
whose corresponding pair is situated right at the Li7+n threshold in Li8.
Lacking any experimental evidence for the existence of such states, it is
presently uncertain whether these structures really exist or they are spurious
resonances in our model. We demonstrate that the predicted state in B8, if it
exists, would have important consequences for the understanding of the
astrophysically important Be7(p,gamma)B8 reaction.Comment: 6 pages with 1 figure. The postscript file and more information are
available at http://nova.elte.hu/~csot