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Photo-induced Quenching of the <sup>229</sup>Th Isomer in a Solid-State Host

ORAL

Abstract

The population dynamics of the 229Th low-lying isomeric state are studied in a solid-state crystal host under laser excitation. It is observed that the isomeric state can be relaxed back to the ground state via illumination by off-resonant vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation through a photoquenching process. This photoquenching process is analyzed with a modified rate equation; with this analysis, the cross-section for this photoquenching process is measured. In addition, a theoretical model is presented, where photoexcitation of electronic states within the material bandgap opens an internal conversion decay channel. This model appears to reproduce the measured cross-section.

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Publication: J. E. S. Terhune et al., "Photo-Induced Quenching of the ²²⁹Th Isomer in a Solid-State Host," arXiv:2412.08998 [physics.atom-ph] (2024). [Online]. Available: https://arxiv.org/abs/2412.08998.

Presenters

  • James Emory Squiers Terhune

    University of California, Los Angeles

Authors

  • James Emory Squiers Terhune

    University of California, Los Angeles

  • Ricky Elwell

    University of California, Los Angeles

  • Hoang Bao Tran Tan

    Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Harry Morgan

    University of Manchester

  • Udeshika Chathurangani Perera

    University of Nevada, Reno

  • Anastassia Alexandrova

    UCLA

  • Andrei P Derevianko

    University of Nevada, Reno

  • Eric R Hudson

    University of California, Los Angeles