Does a 4-α linear chain exist in ¹⁶O?

The C( He, Be) Be reaction has been measured with a beam energy ranging from 12.2 to 20.0 MeV. The α-particles emitted in the decay of Be were detected in an array of four double sided silicon strip detectors. The excitation function for events in which the Be centre of mass angle θ 90° provides evidence that the previously observed 6 resonance at an excitation energy of 19.35 MeV in O is a 6 doublet, with members at ∼ 19.30 and 19.37 MeV.