The structure of heavy octupole and superheavy quadrupole deformed nuclei

We report here experimental attempts to determine the sign of the electric dipole moment (relative to the electric octupole moment) in the octupole de formed nucleus Ra-226. Sensitivity to this quantity is observed in the meas ured yields of gamma -ray transitions following very low energy Coulomb exc itation. Recent progress is also reported in the development of new spectro scopic techniques that promise to elucidate the structure of deformed super heavy nuclei in the region of No-254. The 4(+) --> 2(+) transition in No-25 4. as well as higher spin transitions, has been identified using recoil-tag ged conversion electron spectroscopy.