Microscopic quadrupole and hexadecapole moments of rare earth nuclei

The theoretical calculations of multipole moments of even-even rare earth nuclei are presented. The potential energy surface is evaluated by the shell correction method. The condition ensuring the equality of the density distribution of the macroscopic liquid droplet part of the potential energy and the density generated by the single particle potential is added. A single particle Nilsson potential is used. New, less stiff potential surfaces versusε ₄ are obtained while the multipole moments calculated at the equilibrium deformations agree well with experimental data.