Hexadecapole interaction in the atomic ground state of165Ho

Using the atomic beam magnetic resonance method several hyperfine transitions in the ground state of¹⁶⁵Ho were measured at magnetic fields near zero Oe. Including a hexadecapole interaction constantD a perfect fit of the seven hyperfine separations was possible giving the following results:A′=800.583645 (6)MHz,C′=?1.504 (37)kHzB′=?1668.00527 (33)MHz,D′=?0.137 (14)kHz. These interaction constants have been corrected for second order hyperfine interaction within the⁴I ground multiplet. The corrected constants are the following:A=800.583173 (36)MHz,C=?0.249 (140)kHzB=?1668.078 70 (330) MHz,D=?0.148 (16) kHz. Using a value for 〈r _4f ^/?5 〉_Ho of Fraga a nuclear hexadecapole moment can be calculated:Π(¹⁶⁵Ho)=0.89·10^?48cm⁴. Because of severe uncertainties still present in the theory for calculating the electronic matrix elements this value can be only regarded as highly speculative.