Results of a Direct Search Using Synchrotron Radiation for the Low-EnergyTh<mml:mprescripts/><mml:none/>229Nuclear Isomeric Transition

2015/06/23 by J. Jeet, Christian Schneider, Scott T. Sullivan +6 · 10 citations
Physics and Astronomy · Chemistry · #Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research #Nuclear physics research studies #Advanced NMR Techniques and Applications

paper · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.114.253001

openalex publication_date 2015/06/23 · openalex created_date 2019/07/30 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

Abstract

We report the results of a direct search for the ²²⁹Th (I^\ensuremathπ=3/2⁺\ensuremath←5/2⁺) nuclear isomeric transition, performed by exposing ²²⁹Th-doped LiSrAlF₆ crystals to tunable vacuum-ultraviolet synchrotron radiation and observing any resulting fluorescence. We also use existing nuclear physics data to establish a range of possible transition strengths for the isomeric transition. We find no evidence for the thorium nuclear transition between 7.3 eV and 8.8 eV with transition lifetime (1--2) s\ensuremath\lesssim\ensuremathτ\ensuremath\lesssim(2000--5600) s. This measurement excludes roughly half of the favored transition search area and can be used to direct future searches.

Citations

• Energy Splitting of the Ground-State Doublet in the NucleusTh<mml:mprescripts/><mml:none/>229
• Nuclear laser spectroscopy of the 3.5 eV transition in Th-229
• Features of the low-energy level scheme of 229Th as observed in the α-decay of 233U
• Single-Ion Nuclear Clock for Metrology at the 19th Decimal Place
• Observation of the Deexcitation of theTh<mml:mprescripts/><mml:none/>229mNuclear Isomer
• Processes of the nuclear isomer 229mTh(3/2+, 3.5 ± 1.0 eV) resonant excitation by optical photons

Cited by

• Energy of the 229Th nuclear clock transition
• Measurement of the Th<mml:mprescripts/><mml:none/>229 Isomer Energy with a Magnetic Microcalorimeter
• Lifetime Measurement of the Th<mml:mprescripts/><mml:none/>229 nuclear isomer
• X-ray pumping of the 229Th nuclear clock isomer
• Radiative lifetime and energy of the low-energy isomeric level inTh<mml:mprescripts/><mml:none/>229
• Reduced Transition Probabilities for the Gamma Decay of the 7.8 eV Isomer in Th<mml:mprescripts/><mml:none/>229
• Laser spectroscopic characterization of the nuclear-clock isomer 229mTh
• Attempt to optically excite the nuclear isomer in Th<mml:mprescripts/><mml:none/>229
• Towards a 229Th-Based Nuclear Clock
• Isotopes of thorium [wikipedia]