Nuclear DFT calculations determine the B(M1) transition strength between the 3/2+ ground and 5/2+ isomeric states in 229Th and report favorable agreement with experiment without parameter adjustment.
Enhanced Yield Rate of \textsuperscript{229m}Th via Cascade Decay in Storage Rings and Electron Beam Ion Traps
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abstract
The low-energy nuclear isomeric state of \textsuperscript{229m}Th provides a unique bridge between nuclear and atomic physics, enabling applications such as nuclear clocks and precision metrology. However, efficient and controllable production of \textsuperscript{229m}Th remains a major experimental challenge. We propose an efficient scheme to produce the $^{229\mathrm{m}}$Th in storage rings (SRs) and electron beam ion traps (EBITs), using a cascade decay pathway. Highly charged ions are excited to higher nuclear states via nuclear excitation by inelastic electron scattering (NEIES) and nuclear excitation by electron capture (NEEC), followed by radiative or internal conversion cascades that populate the isomer. Our calculations demonstrate that, under typical SRs and EBITs conditions, optimized indirect excitation pathways significantly enhance \textsuperscript{229m}Th production rate. In particular, NEIES can provide an enhancement of up to four orders of magnitude through cascade de-excitation at high energies, while NEEC can contribute an additional enhancement of up to several tens of times. Such a significant increase in the \textsuperscript{229m}Th yield rate would facilitate its application in various nuclear photonics fields, especially in the development of atomic nuclear clocks.
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nucl-th 1years
2026 1verdicts
UNVERDICTED 1representative citing papers
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Radiative decay and electromagnetic moments in $^{229}$Th determined within nuclear DFT
Nuclear DFT calculations determine the B(M1) transition strength between the 3/2+ ground and 5/2+ isomeric states in 229Th and report favorable agreement with experiment without parameter adjustment.