In an attempt to explore a possible new technique for the measurement of quadrupole moments of short-lived states, we have searched for an internal quadrupole field induced by a possible transient electric field gradient acting on fast-moving ions in solids. In the measurement we attempted to detect perturbations of the angular correlation pattern of $\gamma$ rays deexciting the first $2^{+}$ states in ${}_{}{}^{56}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Fe}$ and ${}_{}{}^{24}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Mg}$, which were both Coulomb excited in the interaction of 125-MeV ${}_{}{}^{56}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Fe}$ with ${}_{}{}^{24}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Mg}$. No electric field gradient effect was seen (≤${10}^{21}$ V/${\mathrm{cm}}^2$). As a by-product, some information was obtained on vacuum deorientation coefficients for ${}_{}{}^{56}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Fe}$ and ${}_{}{}^{24}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Mg}$.

NUCLEAR REACTIONS ${}_{}{}^{24}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Mg}$(${}_{}{}^{56}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Fe}$,${}_{}{}^{56}{}_{}{}^{}\prime \mathrm{Fe}$), $E_{\mathrm{lab}}=125\mathrm{}$ MeV; measured particle-$\gamma$ coincidence $\sigma$; deduced transient electric field gradient. Coupled channels analysis.

• Received 22 March 1982

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.26.2039