Long-time energy oscillation between electron shell and nucleus in ions and coherent electron bridge for a nuclear quantum battery
Phys. Rev. A 114, 033116 – Published 25 September, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/v8gk-3q8t
Abstract
The electron shell of Thorium ions with a transition between the electron states and the doublet of the nucleus ground state with a similar transition represent two two-level systems spatially inserted one within the other. In the case of the relative proximity of the energies of these transitions, weakly damped energy oscillations can be excited between these two-level systems, namely, multiple coherent energy transfers from the electron shell to the nucleus and vice versa. This process in ions does not require a resonant (within the width of the levels) coincidence of the transition energies due to the relatively high interaction energy of the electron and nuclear currents and extends the energy range for the ) isomer excitation via an electron bridge. The electron shell, transitioning between two electron states, “breathes,” periodically decreasing and increasing in size. Furthermore, the system under consideration is transformed into a nuclear quantum battery when exposed to coherent laser radiation. To “charge” the battery, i.e., to excite , one can use developed methods for charging quantum batteries, in particular, the coherent excitation of the electron shell followed by a coherent transfer of excitation energy to the nucleus (the coherent electron bridge). This opens the way for the design of a nuclear quantum battery at the current level of technological development.