Theoretical and experimental evidence for the deformation of ${}_{}{}^{12}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C}$ is surveyed and it is concluded that there is strong evidence for an oblate deformed intrinsic state, contrary to a conclusion by Friar and Negele. Further support for the deformed hypothesis is provided by a self-consistent Hartree-Fock calculation using a density-dependent effective interaction with a realistic spin-orbit interaction. It is concluded that, if the spherical solution is to be favored in the self-consistent calculation, the spin-orbit strength must be at least twice that in the free nucleon-nucleon interaction.

NUCLEAR STRUCTURE ${}_{}{}^{12}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C}$ deformation, theory and experiment; density-dependent Hartree-Fock calculation, spin-orbit force.

• Received 9 February 1978

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.18.983