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arXiv · 1110.2339

Wigner Crystals of 229Th for Optical Excitation of the Nuclear Isomer

C. J. Campbell·A. G. Radnaev·A. Kuzmich
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Abstract

We have produced laser-cooled Wigner crystals of 229Th3+ 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 232Th3+ 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 229Th nucleus.

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C. J. Campbell, A. G. Radnaev, A. Kuzmich. 2011-10-11. Wigner Crystals of 229Th for Optical Excitation of the Nuclear Isomer. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.106.223001

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