Strong-field atomic physics meets 229 Th nuclear physics.

We show how two apparently unrelated research areas, namely, strong-field atomic physics and 229Th nuclear physics, are connected. The connection is possible due to the existence of a very low-lying excited state of the 229Th nucleus, which is only about 8 eV above the nuclear ground state. The connection is physically achieved through an electron recollision process, which is the core process of strong-field atomic physics. The laser-driven recolliding electron is able to excite the nucleus, and a simple model is presented to explain this recollision-induced nuclear excitation process. The connection of these two research areas provides novel opportunities for each area and intriguing possibilities from the direct three-partite interplay between atomic physics, nuclear physics, and laser physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]