The concept of laser-based conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy for a precise energy determination of ^229m Th

authored by

Lars C. von der Wense, Benedict Seiferle, Christian Schneider, Justin Jeet, Ines Amersdorffer, Nicolas Arlt, Florian Zacherl, Raphael Haas, Dennis Renisch, Patrick Mosel, Philip Mosel, Milutin Kovacev, Uwe Morgner, Christoph E. Düllmann, Eric R. Hudson, Peter G. Thirolf

Abstract

²²⁹ Th is the only nucleus currently under investigation for the development of a nuclear optical clock (NOC) of ultra-high accuracy. The insufficient knowledge of the first nuclear excitation energy of ²²⁹ Th has so far hindered direct nuclear laser spectroscopy of thorium ions and thus the development of a NOC. Here, a nuclear laser excitation scheme is detailed, which makes use of thorium atoms instead of ions. This concept, besides potentially leading to the first nuclear laser spectroscopy, would determine the isomeric energy to 40 μeV resolution, corresponding to 10 GHz, which is a 10 ⁴ times improvement compared to the current best energy constraint. This would determine the nuclear isomeric energy to a sufficient accuracy to allow for nuclear laser spectroscopy of individual thorium ions in a Paul trap and thus the development of a single-ion nuclear optical clock.

Organisation(s)

Institute of Quantum Optics
QuantumFrontiers

External Organisation(s)

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU)
University of California (UCLA)
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
Helmholtz-Institut Mainz
GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research

Type

Article

Journal

Hyperfine Interactions

Volume

240

ISSN

0304-3843

Publication date

13.03.2019

Publication status

E-pub ahead of print

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Nuclear and High Energy Physics, Condensed Matter Physics, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10751-019-1564-0 (Access: Closed)
https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.1904.01245 (Access: Open)