²²⁹Th Nuclear Clock

We are developing a solid-state optical frequency standard, based on a low-lying transition in the ²²⁹Th nucleus. Recent data indicates that this transition has the lowest energy of any known nuclear excitation, which should make it amenable to study by laser spectroscopy. Because nuclear energy levels are relatively insensitive to their environment, the complicated vacuum apparatus of current optical frequency standards can be replaced by a single crystal doped with ²²⁹Th atoms. Preliminary analysis indicates that this system should possess the highest Q-factor of any known laser-accessible transition, and thus may achieve an improvement in precision of as much as 10⁶ over current optical frequency clocks.

 

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Facilius inter philosophos quam inter horologia conveniet

                 - Seneca,

                  Apocolocyntosis

         AMO Physics: quantum interactions and fundamental physics tests

Hudson Lab