Carbon-12 in the generalized Skyrme model

We study properties of the ^12C nucleus within the generalized Skyrme model where, in addition to the standard massive Skyrme model, the sextic term and the pionic potential squared are included. We find that the model continues to accurately describe the rotational bands of the ^12C nucleus. In addition, at variance with the case of the standard Skyrme model, it provides the correct energy ordering of the classical solutions which correspond to the ground state and the Hoyle state, respectively.