Sudden change of quadrupole moment between the first 52− states of 197Hg and 199Hg

Low-temperature time differential perturbed angular correlation experiments with the 164 keV-134 keV cascade of ^197mHg in a zinc matrix give evidence that the hitherto accepted value of the quadrupole moment of the first $\text{5}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ state of ¹⁹⁷Hg is erroneous. A new value is derived from a time differential perturbed angular correlation experiment with the 374 keV?158 keV cascade of ^199mHg implanted into a Be single crystal and comparison with an analogous experiment for ^197mHg. Taking $\text{Q(}\text{5}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{,}{}^{199}\text{Hg) = +0.95(7)}\text{b}$ we derive $\text{|Q(}\text{5}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{,}{}^{197}\text{Hg)¦= 0.081(6)}\text{b}$. This change of quadrupole moment is discussed in the framework of the shell model.