measured with beam energies ranging from 12.2 to 20.0 MeV. The α particles emitted
directly and following the decay of 8 Be and 12 C* were detected in an array of four double
sided silicon strip detectors. An analysis of the angular distributions obtained for the 12 C (4
He, 8 Be) 8 Be channel provides no evidence to support the previously proposed rotational
structure consisting of a rigid, linear, arrangement of four α particles in 16 O.