Inelastic proton scattering at 800 MeV to the /sup 12/C 15. 11-MeV state: A search for nuclear critical opalescence

The differential cross section for the reaction /sup 12/C(p,p')/sup 12/C* (15.11 MeV, 1/sup +/, T=1) has been measured at 800 MeV; the range of the angular distribution corresponds to momentum transfers of 0.7--2.4 fm/sup -1/ ((1-3.3)m/sub ..pi../). The cross section decreases almost exponentially at large angles; no maximum is observed in the region where nuclear critical opalescence might be expected.