The shape of the shape eigenstate

Wuosmaa et al. have reported an unusual resonance in the 12C(12C,12C(O2+))12C(O2+) reaction at Ecm = 32.5 MeV. More recently resonances have been observed both in other reactions and other 12C + 12C channels, namely 12C(12C,12C(O2+))12C(3-) and 12C(12C,12C(3-))12C(3-), at the same centre of mass energy. Here we present a new schematic model of these resonances in which the 12C(3-) states play a central role and illustrate the model by appealing to the classical theory of the symmetric top. We compare a simple partial-wave model with the new data of Wuosmaa et al. for the 12C(12C, 12C(O2+))12C(O2+) reaction at Ecm = 32.5 MeV to support the new model. Although we still require several incident partial waves to be contributing simultaneously, we do not require a very large moment of inertia in contrast to our previous shape eigenstate interpretation. We believe that our new model provides a better consistent explanation of all the data mentioned above. (author). 24 refs., 3 figs