The role of alpha clustering in 12 C + 12 C scattering

Summary Resonances in 12 C+ 12 C scattering have fuelled one of the longest debates in nuclear physics and there is no sign of any abatement as new experimental results yield yet more resonances and raise new questions. These new data come from recent experiments at Argonne by Wuosmaa and Betts, the Australian National University (ANU) by the Charissa collaboration and at several other laboratories throughout the world. Many of the new results come from the study of the breakup of the two 12 C nuclei into six alpha particles. This renewed interest in 12 C+ 12 C scattering has also resulted in new theoretical work on the nature of these resonant phenomena. In particular, resonances involving the breakup of the 12 C+ 12 C system into 6 alpha particles, suggest that alpha clustering may play an important role. In this paper we will review these new experimental data and present some new theoretical calculations.