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Energy of the $^{229}$Th Nuclear Clock Isomer Determined by Absolute $\gamma$-ray Energy Difference
- Source :
- Phys. Rev. Lett. 123, 222501 (2019)
- Publication Year :
- 2019
-
Abstract
- The low-lying isomeric state of $^{229}$Th provides unique opportunities for high-resolution laser spectroscopy of the atomic nucleus. We determine the energy of this isomeric state by taking the absolute energy difference between the excitation energy required to populate the 29.2-keV state from the ground-state and the energy emitted in its decay to the isomeric excited state. A transition-edge sensor microcalorimeter was used to measure the absolute energy of the 29.2-keV $\gamma$-ray. Together with the cross-band transition energy (29.2 keV$\to$ground) and the branching ratio of the 29.2-keV state measured in a recent study, the isomer energy was determined to be 8.30$\pm$0.92 eV. Our result is in agreement with latest measurements based on different experimental techniques, which further confirms that the isomeric state of $^{229}$Th is in the laser-accessible vacuum ultraviolet range.<br />Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables
- Subjects :
- Nuclear Experiment
Physics - Atomic Physics
Subjects
Details
- Database :
- arXiv
- Journal :
- Phys. Rev. Lett. 123, 222501 (2019)
- Publication Type :
- Report
- Accession number :
- edsarx.1912.05395
- Document Type :
- Working Paper
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.123.222501