The existence of a nuclear electric octupole moment (EOM) requires both parity and time invariance violation. The EOM’s of odd $Z$ nuclei that are induced by a particular $T$- and $P$-odd interaction are calculated. We compare such octupole moments with the collective EOM’s that can occur in nuclei having a static octupole deformation. A nuclear EOM can induce a parity- and time-invariance-violating atomic electric dipole moment, and the magnitude of this effect is calculated. The contribution of a nuclear EOM to such a dipole moment is found, in most cases, to be smaller than that of other mechanisms of atomic electric dipole moment production.

• Received 2 December 1996

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.56.2820