α-particle condensate states in 16O

The existence of a rotational hand with the alpha + C-12(0(2)(+)) Cluster structure, in which three alpha particles in C-12(0(2)(+)) are locally condensed, is demonstrated near 2 the four-alpha threshold of O-16 in agreement with experiment. This is achieved by Studying structure and scattering for the alpha + C-12(0(2)(+)) system in a unified way. A drastic reduction (quenching) of the moment of the inertia of the 0(+) state at 15.1 MeV just above the four-alpha threshold in O-16 suggests that it Could be a candidate for the superfluid state in alpha-particle condensation. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.