  Results for ab initio no-core shell model calculations in a symmetry-adapted
SU(3)-based coupling scheme demonstrate that collective modes in light nuclei
emerge from first principles. The low-lying states of 6Li, 8Be, and 6He are
shown to exhibit orderly patterns that favor spatial configurations with strong
quadrupole deformation and complementary low intrinsic spin values, a picture
that is consistent with the nuclear symplectic model. The results also suggest
a pragmatic path forward to accommodate deformation-driven collective features
in ab initio analyses when they dominate the nuclear landscape.
