Sign of the Nuclear Quadrupole Interaction in Rhenium Metal

Abstract
The sign and magnitude of the nuclear quadrupole splitting in rhenium metal have been determined by heat-capacity measurements down to 19 mK. We find an average coupling constant e2qQh=246±2 MHz for the two rhenium isotopes. This gives an electric field gradient at the nucleus of q=100qlat, where qlat is the source gradient produced by the Re7+ ion cores in the hcp lattice.