Candidate for the 2+ excited Hoyle state at Ex∼10 MeV in 12C

Inelastic scattering from ¹²C has been measured at extremely forward angles including 0 ^∘ using 386 MeV α particles to study the α-cluster states around E_x ∼ 10 MeV, especially the 2⁺ state predicted by the α-cluster model. We have analyzed (α,α^') cross-section data using both peak-fitting and multipole decomposition techniques. A 2⁺ state at E_x= 9.84 ± 0.06 MeV with a width of 1.01 ± 0.15 MeV is found to be submerged in the broad 0⁺ state at E_x= 9.93 ± 0.03 MeV with a width of 2.71 ± 0.08 MeV. This 2⁺ state may be interpreted as the 2⁺ excitation of the Hoyle state and the α-condensate state.