Hexadecapole deformation studies in148,150Nd

Theγ-ray yields from inelastically excited 2+ and 4+ levels of144,146,148,150Nd nuclei using16O beam at near barrier energies in coincidence with the back-scattered projectiles were measured. The 2+ and 4+ level cross-sections were deduced from the measuredγ-ray yields and fitted to the DWBA calculations to obtain the reduced transition matrix elementsM(E4: 0+ → 4+). The deducedM(E4) values for148Nd and150Nd nuclei, 0.16(0.05) and 0.22(0.12) eb2, respectively are consistent with theoretical predictions.