The Hoyle Family: break-up measurements to probe α-condensation in light nuclei

The ^{12}12C Hoyle state is a candidate for \alphaα-condensation, due to its large volume and \alphaα-cluster structure. This paper discusses precision break-up measurements and how they can elucidate \alphaα-condensate structures. Two experiments are discussed in detail, firstly concerning the break-up of ^{12}12C and then the decays of heavier nuclei. With more theoretical input, and increasingly complex detector setups, precision break-up measurements can, in principle, provide insight into the structures of states in \alphaα-conjugate nuclei. At present, such searches have not delivered evidence for \alphaα-condensation in ^{12}12C or ^{16}16O.