Probing the isoscalar excitations of 12C with inelastic alpha scattering

The robust (spin and isospin zero) $\alpha$-particle remains one of the best projectiles to probe the nuclear isoscalar excitations. In the present work, a microscopic folding model analysis of the \ac inelastic scattering to the 2$^+$ (4.44 MeV), 0$^+$ (7.65 MeV), 3$^-$ (9.64 MeV), 0$^+$ (10.3 MeV) and 1$^-$ (10.84 MeV) states in $^{12}$C has been performed using the 3-$\alpha$ resonating group method wave functions. The isoscalar transition strengths of these states were carefully studied based on the coupled-channel analysis using the microscopic folded form factors. A correlation between the weak binding and/or short lifetime of the excited state and absorption in the exit channel of inelastic scattering has been established.