COULOMB-EXCITATION OF LI-8

We have observed the excitation of the first excited state (E(x) = 0.98 MeV, J-pi = 1+) of the radioactive, neutron-rich nucleus Li-8 (J(g.s.)pi = 2+) from its inelastic scattering on (nat)Ni at E(Li-8) congruent-to 14.6 MeV. Cross sections measured out to large theta-c.m. agree well with Coulomb-excitation probabilities and have been used to deduce an E2-up transition rate for the 2(g.s.+ --> 1+ excitation in Li-8*. The latter [B(E2-up) = 55 +/- 15 e2fm4] is large relative to nearby stable nuclei, but comparable to the neighboring neutron-rich nucleus Be-10. The relevance of the data to predicted "neutron-halo" giant dipole resonances in unstable nuclear projectiles is considered. -flip excitations.