Studies of the Hg isotopes via reactions

The $^{199}$Hg isotope holds the most stringent upper limit for a nuclear electric dipole moment (EDM) to date. The experimental limit on the observed atomic EDM for $^{199}$Hg is converted to a limit on the nuclear EDM via a calculation of the Schiff moment, requiring knowledge of the nuclear structure of $^{199}$Hg. Ideal information to further contrain the $^{199}$Hg Schiff moment theoretical models would be the $E3$ and $E1$ strength distributions to the ground state, and $E2$ transitions amongst excited states. While the high level density of $^{199}$Hg makes those determinations challenging, complimentary information can be obtained from exploring surrounding even-even Hg isotopes.\\ As part of a campaign to study the Hg isotopes near $^{199}$Hg, two reactions, $^{198}$Hg$(d,d^{\prime})^{198}$Hg and $^{198}$Hg$(d,p)^{199}$Hg, were studied using the Q3D spectrograph at the Maier-Leibnitz Laboratory (MLL) in Garching, Germany. A 22 MeV deuterium beam was used to impinge a $^{198}$Hg$^{32}$S target. The $(d,d^{\prime})$ reaction allows us to probe the desired $E2$ and $E3$ matrix elements, while the \textit{(d,p)} reaction provides information on the neutron single-particle states of $^{199}$Hg. Work to date will be presented.