Nuclear polarization of high-spin levels and the sign of the quadrupole moment of 54Fe(10+)

The determination of the sign of the quadrupole deformation at high spins requires an observation of the electric quadrupole interaction of polarized isomers in single crystals of non-cubic metallic hosts. The ⁵⁴Fe(10⁺) isomer was polarized, subsequent to its population by the (¹²C, p2n) reaction, by passage through an array of tilted carbon foils. The isomers were then recoil implanted into single crystals of zinc and cadmium and the tune differential modulations of the angular distribution of decay γ-rays were observed. Nuclear polarization values of P_I = 0.08(3)?0.18(5) were found for 13–17 polarizing foils, respectively, and a positive sign of the quadrupole moment was deduced. An improved value was established for the quadrupole moment: $\text{Q}{}^{54}\text{Fe}\text{(10}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)] = + 29.7(4) e ·}\text{fm}{}^2$, in agreement with current shell-model predictions.