Correlated spin orientations in 12C

The correlation between the spin orientations of the two /sup 12/C(2/sup +/) nuclei in mutual inelastic /sup 12/C+ /sup 12/C scattering has been deduced from the directional correlations of the particle-coincident ..gamma.. rays measured with a crystal ball. Resonances in the cross section are found to be nearly uniquely associated with the mutually aligned component. The strong resonance structure as well as the characteristic behavior of the angular distributions of this reaction component are suggestive of the formation of a rotating dinuclear complex in the sticking configuration.