Can nuclear matter consist of $α$-particles?

Abstract: A sufficient condition for the spatial collapse in an infinite system of interacting Bose particles is obtained on the basis of the variational principle with the use of trial functions with the Jastrow pair correlation factors. The instability of a hypothetical infinite system of $\alpha$-particles with respect to the spatial collapse is shown under the assumption of the Ali - Bodmer interaction potentials between such Bose particles. Thus, it becomes clear why the hypothetical nuclear matter is naturally treated with the use of at least the nucleon degrees of freedom.