The effect of deformation on the excitation of multiple giant dipole resona
nces is studied. Analytical expressions are derived in the framework of the
interacting bosom model for the energies and El properties of giant dipole
resonances in spherical and deformed nuclei, and a numerical treatment of
transitional nuclei is proposed. Coulomb-excitation cross sections are calc
ulated in U-238 and in the samarium isotopes. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevie
r Science B.V. All rights reserved.