Temperature dependence of the quadrupole interaction in Zn metal

The quadrupole interaction of 117In in Zn was studied at various temperatures between 770K and 6730K. The 89-345 keV gamma-ray cascade through the 660 keV level of 117In with spin 3/2 and half life 54 ns was used to study the interaction employing time differential perturbed angular correlation technique. The interaction frequency νsub(q) at room temperature was found to be νsub(q) = 183 +- 2 MHz. The frequencies at various temperatures were obtained and compared with those obtained by putting other probe nuclei in Zn metal. The quadrupole interaction was seen to decrease at higher temperatures whereas the field gradient due to lattice ions is expected to increase. The electric field gradient at 117In in Zn was estimated to be 357.4 x 1013 esu/cm3 at room temperature using the known value of the quadrupole moment of the 660 keV level. The contribution due to the lattice ions was calculated to be -127.4 x 1013 esu/cm3. From this the contribution of the conduction electrons to the electric field gradient could be estimated. (author)