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Laser Excitation of the Th-229 Nucleus

J. Tiedau*, M. V. Okhapkin*, K. Zhang*, J. Thielking, G. Zitzer, and E. Peik†

F. Schaden*, T. Pronebner, I. Morawetz, L. Toscani De Col, F. Schneider, A. Leitner, M. Pressler, G. A. Kazakov, K. Beeks et al.

  • Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany

T. Sikorsky and T. Schumm‡

  • Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology, Atominstitut, TU Wien, 1020 Vienna, Austria

  • *These authors contributed equally to this letter.
  • †ekkehard.peik@ptb.de
  • ‡thorsten.schumm@tuwien.ac.at
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Phys. Rev. Lett. 132, 182501 – Published 29 April, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.132.182501

Abstract

The 8.4 eV nuclear isomer state in Th-229 is resonantly excited in Th-doped CaF2 crystals using a tabletop tunable laser system. A resonance fluorescence signal is observed in two crystals with different Th-229 dopant concentrations, while it is absent in a control experiment using Th-232. The nuclear resonance for the Th4+ ions in Th:CaF2 is measured at the wavelength 148.3821(5) nm, frequency 2020.409(7) THz, and the fluorescence lifetime in the crystal is 630(15) s, corresponding to an isomer half-life of 1740(50) s for a nucleus isolated in vacuum. These results pave the way toward Th-229 nuclear laser spectroscopy and realizing optical nuclear clocks.

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PRL Collection of the Year 2024

Here is our Collection of the Year 2024. We have gathered about one issue’s worth of Letters, representative of the wide range of interests of the communities advancing fundamental and applied physical science. We plan to have such a collection each year.

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Shedding Light on the Thorium-229 Nuclear Clock Isomer

Published 29 April, 2024

Researchers use a laser to excite and precisely measure a long-sought exotic nuclear state, paving the way for precise timekeeping and ultrasensitive quantum sensing.

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Outline

Information

Phys. Rev. Lett. 132, 182501– Published 29 April, 2024
  • Received 5 February 2024
  • Revised 12 March 2024
  • Accepted 14 March 2024
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