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Controlling 229Th isomeric state population in a VUV transparent crystal

Author

Listed:
  • Takahiro Hiraki

    (Okayama University)

  • Koichi Okai

    (Okayama University)

  • Michael Bartokos

    (TU Wien)

  • Kjeld Beeks

    (TU Wien)

  • Hiroyuki Fujimoto

    (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST))

  • Yuta Fukunaga

    (Okayama University)

  • Hiromitsu Haba

    (RIKEN)

  • Yoshitaka Kasamatsu

    (Osaka University)

  • Shinji Kitao

    (Kyoto University)

  • Adrian Leitner

    (TU Wien)

  • Takahiko Masuda

    (Okayama University)

  • Ming Guan

    (Okayama University)

  • Nobumoto Nagasawa

    (Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute)

  • Ryoichiro Ogake

    (Okayama University)

  • Martin Pimon

    (TU Wien)

  • Martin Pressler

    (TU Wien)

  • Noboru Sasao

    (Okayama University)

  • Fabian Schaden

    (TU Wien)

  • Thorsten Schumm

    (TU Wien)

  • Makoto Seto

    (Kyoto University)

  • Yudai Shigekawa

    (RIKEN)

  • Kotaro Shimizu

    (Okayama University)

  • Tomas Sikorsky

    (TU Wien)

  • Kenji Tamasaku

    (RIKEN SPring-8 Center)

  • Sayuri Takatori

    (Okayama University)

  • Tsukasa Watanabe

    (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST))

  • Atsushi Yamaguchi

    (RIKEN)

  • Yoshitaka Yoda

    (Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute)

  • Akihiro Yoshimi

    (Okayama University)

  • Koji Yoshimura

    (Okayama University)

Abstract

The radioisotope thorium-229 (229Th) is renowned for its extraordinarily low-energy, long-lived nuclear first-excited state. This isomeric state can be excited by vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) lasers and 229Th has been proposed as a reference transition for ultra-precise nuclear clocks. To assess the feasibility and performance of the nuclear clock concept, time-controlled excitation and depopulation of the 229Th isomer are imperative. Here we report the population of the 229Th isomeric state through resonant X-ray pumping and detection of the radiative decay in a VUV transparent 229Th-doped CaF2 crystal. The decay half-life is measured to 447(25) s, with a transition wavelength of 148.18(42) nm and a radiative decay fraction consistent with unity. Furthermore, we report a new “X-ray quenching” effect which allows to de-populate the isomer on demand and effectively reduce the half-life. Such controlled quenching can be used to significantly speed up the interrogation cycle in future nuclear clock schemes.

Suggested Citation

  • Takahiro Hiraki & Koichi Okai & Michael Bartokos & Kjeld Beeks & Hiroyuki Fujimoto & Yuta Fukunaga & Hiromitsu Haba & Yoshitaka Kasamatsu & Shinji Kitao & Adrian Leitner & Takahiko Masuda & Ming Guan , 2024. "Controlling 229Th isomeric state population in a VUV transparent crystal," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-49631-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49631-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Benedict Seiferle & Lars Wense & Pavlo V. Bilous & Ines Amersdorffer & Christoph Lemell & Florian Libisch & Simon Stellmer & Thorsten Schumm & Christoph E. Düllmann & Adriana Pálffy & Peter G. Thirolf, 2019. "Energy of the 229Th nuclear clock transition," Nature, Nature, vol. 573(7773), pages 243-246, September.
    2. C. J. Chiara & J. J. Carroll & M. P. Carpenter & J. P. Greene & D. J. Hartley & R. V. F. Janssens & G. J. Lane & J. C. Marsh & D. A. Matters & M. Polasik & J. Rzadkiewicz & D. Seweryniak & S. Zhu & S., 2018. "Isomer depletion as experimental evidence of nuclear excitation by electron capture," Nature, Nature, vol. 554(7691), pages 216-218, February.
    3. Philip Walker & George Dracoulis, 1999. "Energy traps in atomic nuclei," Nature, Nature, vol. 399(6731), pages 35-40, May.
    4. Sandro Kraemer & Janni Moens & Michail Athanasakis-Kaklamanakis & Silvia Bara & Kjeld Beeks & Premaditya Chhetri & Katerina Chrysalidis & Arno Claessens & Thomas E. Cocolios & João G. M. Correia & Hil, 2023. "Observation of the radiative decay of the 229Th nuclear clock isomer," Nature, Nature, vol. 617(7962), pages 706-710, May.
    5. Takahiko Masuda & Akihiro Yoshimi & Akira Fujieda & Hiroyuki Fujimoto & Hiromitsu Haba & Hideaki Hara & Takahiro Hiraki & Hiroyuki Kaino & Yoshitaka Kasamatsu & Shinji Kitao & Kenji Konashi & Yuki Miy, 2019. "X-ray pumping of the 229Th nuclear clock isomer," Nature, Nature, vol. 573(7773), pages 238-242, September.
    6. Atsushi Yamaguchi & Yudai Shigekawa & Hiromitsu Haba & Hidetoshi Kikunaga & Kenji Shirasaki & Michiharu Wada & Hidetoshi Katori, 2024. "Laser spectroscopy of triply charged 229Th isomer for a nuclear clock," Nature, Nature, vol. 629(8010), pages 62-66, May.
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