Determination of hexadecapole (β4) deformation of the light-mass nucleus 24Mg using quasi-elastic scattering measurements

Quasi-elastic scattering measurements have been performed using 16O and 24Mg projectiles off 90Zr at energies around the Coulomb barrier. Experimental data have been analyzed in the framework of coupled channels (CC) calculations using the code CCFULL. The quasi-elastic scattering excitation function and derived barrier distribution for 16O + 90Zr reaction are well reproduced by the CC calculations using the vibrational coupling strengths for 90Zr reported in the literature. Using these vibrational coupling strengths, a Bayesian analysis is carried out for 24Mg + 90Zr reaction. The β 2 and β 4 values for 24Mg are determined to be + 0.43 ± 0.02 and − 0.11 ± 0.02 , respectively. The β 2 parameter determined in the present work is in good agreement with results obtained using inelastic scattering probes. The hexadecapole deformation of 24Mg has been measured very precisely for the first time. Present results establish that quasi-elastic scattering could provide a useful probe to determine the ground state deformation of atomic nuclei.