Evolution of the fusion cross-section in the 16O + 16O reaction has been analysed. It is shown, both analytically and numerically, that in this excitation function some oscillations can be observed. These oscillations are related to the quantum character of the orbital angular momentum increase as well as to the distinct features of the 16O + 16O reaction. In order to perform the numerical calculations, the fluctuation–dissipation model and the single barrier penetration model are used. It turns out that the experimental data available in the literature do not have any definite proof about the presence or absence of the oscillations. We stress, that the question still remains unanswered for more than three decades whereas during this time lapse the experimental errors for other reactions are reduced to 1–2%.
