Excitation functions and angular distributions for the ${}_{}{}^{12}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C}(\alpha ,{}_{}{}^8{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Be}){}_{}{}^8{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Be}$ reaction were measured for $E_{\alpha }=17\mathrm{}-33$ MeV. Only broad structures were observed, except for a narrow resonance at $E_{\alpha }=22.30\mathrm{}$ MeV. Total and $L$ - partial cross sections are deduced from the angular distributions. Below $E_{\alpha }=20\mathrm{}$ MeV no $J=8\mathrm{}$ resonance was found. For higher energies an $L=8\mathrm{}$ contribution appears, increases gradually, and becomes dominant at and above $E_{\alpha }=23\mathrm{}$ MeV. A tentative interpretation of the behavior of ${}_{}{}^{12}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C}(\alpha ,{}_{}{}^8{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Be}){}_{}{}^8{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Be}$ partial cross sections is given in the framework of the Hauser-Feshbach formalism.

NUCLEAR REACTIONS ${}_{}{}^{12}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C}(\alpha ,{}_{}{}^8{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Be})$, $E=17\mathrm{}-33$ MeV, measured $\sigma (E_{\alpha };\theta )$. ${}_{}{}^{16}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$ resonances. Natural targets.

• Received 12 November 1975

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.13.967