EVIDENCE FOR TRANSIENT ELECTRIC-FIELD GRADIENTS IN H-LIKE IONS TRAVERSING GD TARGETS AT HIGH VELOCITIES

Transient electric field gradients have been observed in measurements of particle-gamma-angular correlations of Coulomb excited nuclei in H- like ions during traversal through thick metallic layers. The V-ZZ val ues deduced for Ne-20(2(+)),S-32(2(+)), Ar-40(2(+)), Cr-52(2(+)), Fe-5 4(2(+)), and Ni-62(2(+)) are found to be of the order of 10(21) V/cm(2 ) with consistently positive sign. They arise from distortions of the Is electron orbit of the H-like ions by the wake field gradient induce d in the solid by the charge of the moving ion. The observed interacti on frequencies reflect the sign of the quadrupole moment of the excite d 2(+) states.