Collectivity in S-44

The energy and reduced transition probability B(E2;O-g.s.(+)-->2(+)) for the lowest excited state in the neutron-rich isotope S-44(16)28 were measured by intermediate-energy Coulomb excitation. The excitation. The excitation energy is E(2(+)) = 1297(18) keV and the reduced transition probability is B(E2;O-g.s(+)-->2(1)(+)) = 314(88) e(2)fm(4). The experimental results are compared with self-consistent mean-field calculations and shell model calculations with empirical interactions. The shell model calculations indicate that the large B(E2) value in S-44 is vibrational in origin, while the neighboring isotopes S-40,S-42 are statically deformed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.