<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mml:mrow><mml:msup><mml:mn>2</mml:mn><mml:mrow><mml:mo>+</mml:mo></mml:mrow></mml:msup></mml:mrow></mml:math>excitation of the<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mml:mmultiscripts><mml:mi mathvariant="normal">C</mml:mi><mml:mprescripts/><mml:none/><mml:mrow><mml:mn>12</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:mmultiscripts></mml:math>Hoyle state

A high-energy-resolution magnetic spectrometer has been used to measure the $^{12}\mathrm{C}$ excitation energy spectrum to search for the ${2}^{+}$ excitation of the 7.65 MeV, ${0}^{+}$ Hoyle state. By measuring in the diffractive minimum of the angular distribution for the broad ${0}^{+}$ background, evidence is found for a possible ${2}^{+}$ state at 9.6(1) MeV with a width of 600(100) keV. The implications for the $^{8}\mathrm{Be}+^{4}\mathrm{He}$ reaction rate in stellar environments are discussed.