Reduced Transition Probabilities for the Gamma Decay of the 7.8 eV Isomer in Th229

Nikolay Minkov and Adriana Pálffy
Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 212501 – Published 23 May 2017
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Abstract

The reduced magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole transition probabilities for the radiative decay of the Th2297.8eV isomer to the ground state are predicted within a detailed nuclear-structure model approach. We show that the presence and decay of this isomer can only be accounted for by the Coriolis mixing emerging from a remarkably fine interplay between the coherent quadrupole-octupole motion of the nuclear core and the single-nucleon motion within a reflection-asymmetric deformed potential. We find that the magnetic dipole transition probability which determines the radiative lifetime of the isomer is considerably smaller than presently estimated. The so-far disregarded electric quadrupole component may have non-negligible contributions to the internal conversion channel. These findings support new directions in the experimental search of the Th229 transition frequency for the development of a future nuclear frequency standard.

  • Figure
  • Received 20 February 2017

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.118.212501

© 2017 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Nuclear PhysicsAtomic, Molecular & OpticalInterdisciplinary Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Nikolay Minkov1,2,* and Adriana Pálffy2,†

  • 1Institute of Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Tzarigrad Road 72, BG-1784 Sofia, Bulgaria
  • 2Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany

  • *nminkov@inrne.bas.bg
  • Palffy@mpi-hd.mpg.de

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Issue

Vol. 118, Iss. 21 — 26 May 2017

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