Effective charge of the (pi)h(11/2) orbital and the electric field gradient of Hg from the Yrast structure of 206Hg.

The gamma-ray decay of excited states of the two-proton hole nucleus, 206Hg, has been identified using Gammasphere and 208Pb+238U collisions. The yrast states found include a T(1/2) = 92(8) ns 10(+) isomer located above the known 5(-) isomer. The B(E2;10(+)-->8(+)) strength is used to derive the quadrupole polarization charge induced by the h(11/2) proton hole. Also, the implied quadrupole moment has been used to provide an absolute scale for the electric field gradient of Hg in Hg metal.