Dipole states in the deuteron, other exotic nuclei, and ''Schrodinger's Cat''

The question whether the ''soft giant dipole modes'' in halo nuclei are resonances is discussed. It is argued that a resonance picture of these modes can be envisaged with a non Breit-Wigner line shape. The dipole Coulomb breakup of the deuteron is worked out as a specific example of such a picture. The ''soft'' and ''hard'' dipole modes of the more complex neutron-rich exotic nuclei are treated from this point of view. An interpretation of the coherent production of these modes in Coulomb excitation as a nuclear instance of Schrodinger cat state is advanced.