Results of a Direct Search Using Synchrotron Radiation for the Low-Energy Th229 Nuclear Isomeric Transition

Justin Jeet, Christian Schneider, Scott T. Sullivan, Wade G. Rellergert, Saed Mirzadeh, A. Cassanho, H. P. Jenssen, Eugene V. Tkalya, and Eric R. Hudson
Phys. Rev. Lett. 114, 253001 – Published 23 June 2015

Abstract

We report the results of a direct search for the Th229 (Iπ=3/2+5/2+) nuclear isomeric transition, performed by exposing Th229-doped LiSrAlF6 crystals to tunable vacuum-ultraviolet synchrotron radiation and observing any resulting fluorescence. We also use existing nuclear physics data to establish a range of possible transition strengths for the isomeric transition. We find no evidence for the thorium nuclear transition between 7.3 eV and 8.8 eV with transition lifetime (1–2) sτ(20005600)s. This measurement excludes roughly half of the favored transition search area and can be used to direct future searches.

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  • Received 7 February 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.253001

© 2015 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Justin Jeet1, Christian Schneider1, Scott T. Sullivan1,*, Wade G. Rellergert1,†, Saed Mirzadeh2, A. Cassanho3, H. P. Jenssen3, Eugene V. Tkalya4,5, and Eric R. Hudson1

  • 1Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
  • 2Nuclear Security and Isotope Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, USA
  • 3AC Materials, Inc., 756 Anclote Road, Tarpon Springs, Florida 34689, USA
  • 4Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie gory, Moscow 119991, Russia
  • 5Nuclear Safety Institute of Russian Academy of Science, Bol’shaya Tulskaya 52, Moscow 115191, Russia

  • *Present address: AOSense, Inc., Sunnyvale, California 94085, USA.
  • Present address: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California 91109, USA.

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Issue

Vol. 114, Iss. 25 — 26 June 2015

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