Evidence of a higher nodal band <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mrow><mml:mi>α</mml:mi><mml:mo>+</mml:mo><mml:mmultiscripts><mml:mi>Ca</mml:mi><mml:mprescripts /><mml:none /><mml:mn>44</mml:mn></mml:mmultiscripts></mml:mrow></mml:math> cluster state in fusion reactions and <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mi>α</mml:mi></mml:math> clustering in <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mmultiscripts><mml:mi>Ti</mml:mi…

In the nucleus $^{48}$Ti, whose structure is essential in evaluating half-life of neutrinoless double-$\beta$ decay ($0\nu\beta\beta$) $^{48}$Ca, existence $\alpha$ cluster shown for first time. A unified description scattering and performed $\alpha$+$^{44}$Ca system. By using a global potential, which reproduces experimental over wide range incident energies, $E_\alpha$=18 - 100 MeV, it that observed fusion excitation function at $E_\alpha$=9 -18 MeV described well. The bump $E_\alpha$=10.2 found to be due resonance $7^-$ state higher nodal band with $^{48}$Ti. local potential model locates ground $^{48}$Ti agreement experiment enhanced $B(E2)$ values This shows collectivity clustering should taken into account evaluation nuclear matrix element $0\nu\beta\beta$ $^{48}$Ca.