Nuclear coherent population transfer to the <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mmultiscripts><mml:mi>Th</mml:mi><mml:mprescripts/><mml:none/><mml:mrow><mml:mn>229</mml:mn><mml:mi>m</mml:mi></mml:mrow></mml:mmultiscripts></mml:math> isomer using x-ray pulses

Abstract

Pumping electrons in atoms via a gateway state to metastable states is a common and important tool with many applications, but the same process has yet to be achieved in atomic nuclei. The authors provide detailed mechanisms to pump a metastable state of ${}^{229}$Th at the extraordinarily low nuclear excitation energy of 8 eV, while also pointing out important gaps in our knowledge of this system. A population inversion to this state could be the basis for a novel ``nuclear clock'' to rival atomic clocks.

Topics & Concepts