Determination of electric field gradient parameters in tellurium

The relative intensities of the Mössbauer doublet in Te have been analysed at 4 K and 80 K by utilizing values of the mean square displacement tensor derived from inelastic neutron scattering measurements. The orientation β of the electric field gradient ellipsoid and its asymmetry parameter η have been determined. At 4 K, β = 90°, η = −0.17 and at 80 K, β = 92°, η = −0.48. A simple 'bond charge' model is proposed in an attempt to understand the discrepancy between these values of the electric field gradient parameters and those obtained theoretically by other authors.