The Nuclear Quadrupole Interaction of 204mPb in Lead Oxides

The nuclear quadrupole interaction of ^204mPb in lead oxides has been measured by γ–γ time differential perturbed angular correlation. Ab-initio calculations of the electric field gradients and X-ray diffraction allowed the assignment of the detected nuclear quadrupole interactions to the different Pb sites in the PbO phases litharge and massicote as well as in Pb₃O₄. The TDPAC probe ^204mPb was produced with a ²⁰⁴Bi/^204mPb-generator at the home laboratory at the University of Leipzig. The use of a high performance liquid chromatography system increased significantly the yield, the specific activity of ^204mPb, and reduced the acidic concentration of the eluate.