$^8$Li $B(E2; 2^+ \rightarrow 1^+)$ measurement and comparison with ab initio calculations

Measuring electromagnetic transition strengths can provide stringent tests of nuclear $\textit{ab initio}$ calculations in light nuclei. For the A=7 isobars, $^7$Li and $^7$Be, the B(E2) transition strengths of the first excited states have been used to benchmark a variety of $\textit{ab initio}$ calculations (S. L. Henderson $\textit{et al.}$ Phys. Rev. C 99, 064320 (2019) ). We have continued these tests by extending into the A=8 region and performed a Coulomb excitation experiment to measure the $B(E2; 2^+ \rightarrow 1^+)$ of the transition from the first excited state in $^8$Li. This measurement will provide additional constraints to these $\textit{ab initio}$ calculations and these calculations can then give insight into the structural changes from $^7$Li to $^8$Li due to the addition of a neutron.The $^8$Li was produced and separated with TwinSol and the cross sections were measured by observing $\gamma$-ray yields in coincidence with scattered $^8$Li. The newly remeasured B(E2) value will be presented and compared to NCSM calculations for $^8$Li, performed with a variety of nuclear interactions.