Electric moments and charge deformation parameters inSm152,154,Gd156, andEr166

Abstract
Coulomb excitation experiments with α particles were performed on the four rare-earth nuclei Sm152,154, Gd156, and Er166. E2 and E4 transition matrix elements of low-lying levels in the rotational ground-state bands were obtained. Model dependent charge deformation parameters β2c and β4c were extracted assuming a deformed Fermi distribution with diffuse surface. The possible difference between charge and nuclear hexadecapole deformation observed in Sm154 does not show up in the isotone Gd156.