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Wigner Crystals of Th229 for Optical Excitation of the Nuclear Isomer

C. J. Campbell, A. G. Radnaev, and A. Kuzmich
Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 223001 – Published 2 June 2011
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Abstract

We have produced laser-cooled Wigner crystals of Th3+229 in a linear Paul trap. The magnetic dipole (A) and electric quadrupole (B) hyperfine constants for four low-lying electronic levels and the relative isotope shifts with respect to Th3+232 for three low-lying optical transitions are measured. Using the hyperfine B constants in conjunction with prior atomic structure calculations, a new value of the spectroscopic nuclear electric quadrupole moment Q=3.11(16)eb is deduced. These results are a step towards optical excitation of the low-lying isomer level in the Th229 nucleus.

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  • Received 21 March 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.223001

© 2011 American Physical Society

Synopsis

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The nuclear option

Published 2 June 2011

Optical clocks based on nuclear energy levels may offer unprecedented precision and a chance to find out whether fundamental constants change over time.

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Authors & Affiliations

C. J. Campbell, A. G. Radnaev, and A. Kuzmich*

  • School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0430, USA

  • *alex.kuzmich@physics.gatech.edu

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Issue

Vol. 106, Iss. 22 — 3 June 2011

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