Photoinduced quenching of the ^{229}Th isomer in a solid-state host

The population dynamics of the ^{229}Th isomeric state is studied in a solid-state host under laser illumination. A photoquenching process is observed, where off-resonant vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) radiation leads to relaxation of the isomeric state. The cross-section for this photoquenching process i...

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Main Authors: J. E. S. Terhune, R. Elwell, H. B. Tran Tan, U. C. Perera, H. W. T. Morgan, A. N. Alexandrova, Andrei Derevianko, Eric R. Hudson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Physical Society 2025-06-01
Series:Physical Review Research
Online Access:http://doi.org/10.1103/glzr-thyw
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author J. E. S. Terhune
R. Elwell
H. B. Tran Tan
U. C. Perera
H. W. T. Morgan
A. N. Alexandrova
Andrei Derevianko
Eric R. Hudson
author_facet J. E. S. Terhune
R. Elwell
H. B. Tran Tan
U. C. Perera
H. W. T. Morgan
A. N. Alexandrova
Andrei Derevianko
Eric R. Hudson
author_sort J. E. S. Terhune
collection DOAJ
description The population dynamics of the ^{229}Th isomeric state is studied in a solid-state host under laser illumination. A photoquenching process is observed, where off-resonant vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) radiation leads to relaxation of the isomeric state. The cross-section for this photoquenching process is measured, and a model for the decay process, where photoexcitation of electronic states within the material band gap opens an internal conversion decay channel, is presented and appears to reproduce the measured cross-section. By engineering defects into ^{229}Th-doped solid-state hosts, this previously unrecognized photoquenching process may be used to reduce the clock transition readout time and thereby increase the stability of the nuclear clock.
format Article
id doaj-art-d24ff572784b48bf9b69705e6271a8d2
institution Kabale University
issn 2643-1564
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher American Physical Society
record_format Article
series Physical Review Research
spelling doaj-art-d24ff572784b48bf9b69705e6271a8d22025-08-20T03:47:07ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPhysical Review Research2643-15642025-06-0172L02206210.1103/glzr-thywPhotoinduced quenching of the ^{229}Th isomer in a solid-state hostJ. E. S. TerhuneR. ElwellH. B. Tran TanU. C. PereraH. W. T. MorganA. N. AlexandrovaAndrei DereviankoEric R. HudsonThe population dynamics of the ^{229}Th isomeric state is studied in a solid-state host under laser illumination. A photoquenching process is observed, where off-resonant vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) radiation leads to relaxation of the isomeric state. The cross-section for this photoquenching process is measured, and a model for the decay process, where photoexcitation of electronic states within the material band gap opens an internal conversion decay channel, is presented and appears to reproduce the measured cross-section. By engineering defects into ^{229}Th-doped solid-state hosts, this previously unrecognized photoquenching process may be used to reduce the clock transition readout time and thereby increase the stability of the nuclear clock.http://doi.org/10.1103/glzr-thyw
spellingShingle J. E. S. Terhune
R. Elwell
H. B. Tran Tan
U. C. Perera
H. W. T. Morgan
A. N. Alexandrova
Andrei Derevianko
Eric R. Hudson
Photoinduced quenching of the ^{229}Th isomer in a solid-state host
Physical Review Research
title Photoinduced quenching of the ^{229}Th isomer in a solid-state host
title_full Photoinduced quenching of the ^{229}Th isomer in a solid-state host
title_fullStr Photoinduced quenching of the ^{229}Th isomer in a solid-state host
title_full_unstemmed Photoinduced quenching of the ^{229}Th isomer in a solid-state host
title_short Photoinduced quenching of the ^{229}Th isomer in a solid-state host
title_sort photoinduced quenching of the 229 th isomer in a solid state host
url http://doi.org/10.1103/glzr-thyw
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