Accuracy of B(E2;01+→21+) transition rates from intermediate-energy Coulomb excitation experiments

The method of intermediate-energy Coulomb excitation has been widely used to determine absolute B(E2;01+→21+) quadrupole excitation strengths in exotic nuclei with even numbers of protons and neutrons. Transition rates measured with intermediate-energy Coulomb excitation are compared to their respective adopted values and for the example of 26Mg to the B(E2;01+→21+) values obtained with a variety of standard methods. Intermediate-energy Coulomb excitation is found to have an accuracy comparable to those of long-established experimental techniques