nuclear quadrupole moment (spectroscopic)

https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.N04238
A parameter which describes the effective shape of the equivalent ellipsoid of the nuclear charge distribution, Q>0 for prolate (e.g. 57Fe, 197Au); Q<0 for oblate (e.g. 119Sn, 129I) nuclei.
Source:
PAC, 1976, 45, 211. (Nomenclature and Conventions for Reporting Mössbauer Spectroscopic Data) on page 214 [Terms] [Paper]