Laser-driven direct quantum control of nuclear excitations

The possibility of controlled direct laser-nuclear excitations is considered from a quantum control perspective. The controllability of laser-driven electric dipole and magnetic dipole transitions among pure nuclear states is analyzed. Within a set of realistic and general conditions, atomic nuclei are demonstrated to possess full state controllability. Additionally, an analysis of the nuclear state excitation probability as a function of the laser control field is conducted. This control landscape is shown to possess a generic topology, which has important physical consequences for achieving optimal nuclear state excitation with laser fields. Last, an assessment is given of the technological challenges that need to be considered when implementing direct nuclear control in the laboratory.

Figure 1

Representation of the connectivity graph for the nine lowest excited eigenstates of ${}_{63}^{153}\text{Eu}$ [17]. Of the observed eigenstates below 300 keV, only dipole-allowed transitions contributing at least $5\%$ of the total emissive oscillator strength from a given state are included in the connectivity graph. The vertices $\mathcal{V}$ of the connectivity graph correspond to the nuclear eigenstates, represented by horizontal lines, along with their associated energy and term symbol. Arrows connecting the various eigenstates are the graph edges $\mathcal{E}$; $E1$ transitions are depicted by blue solid arrows, and $M1$ transitions are depicted by green dashed arrows.