arXiv subjects

Florian Zacherl

Publications and source records attributed to Florian Zacherl.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Generation of continuous-wave laser light at 148.4 nm using cavity-enhanced second harmonic generation in $BaMgF_4$

We experimentally investigate the potential of $BaMgF_4$ crystals to create a continuous-wave (CW) solid state laser at the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) wavelength of 148.4 nm via cavity-enhanced second harmonic generation. This investigation is motivated by the development of a nuclear optical clock based on a transition between the ground and isomeric state in the $^{229}Th$ nucleus. For this purpose, a $BaMgF_4$ crystal was grown, optically polished and periodically poled. The crystal was inserted into a power-enhancement cavity, resonant at the fundamental wavelength of 296.8 nm and the generated laser light at 148.4 nm was characterized. Within this proof-of-concept investigation, a VUV output power of typically ($16\pm1$) pW is obtained. This marks the first time that this type of crystal is used to generate VUV laser light. The experimental findings are compared to theoretical expectations and provide a clear path for future improvements.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2025

A cryogenic Paul trap for probing the nuclear isomeric excited state $^{229\text{m}}$Th$^{3+}$

While laser excitation of the nuclear isomeric transition in $^{229}$Th has been recently achieved for thorium atoms embedded in large-bandgap crystals, laser excitation and characterization of the nuclear transition in trapped $^{229}$Th$^{3+}$ ions has not yet been accomplished. To address these experiments, a cryogenic Paul trap setup has been designed, built, and commissioned at LMU Munich. Here, we present the specifications of the new experimental platform and demonstrate its successful operation, showing the extraction, subsequent ion-guiding, mass-purification, and trapping of $^{229}$Th$^{3+}$ and $^{229\text{m}}$Th$^{3+}$ ions from a newly designed buffer-gas stopping cell as well as of $^{88}$Sr$^{+}$ ions from laser ablation of a solid target. Further, we show sympathetic laser cooling of $^{229\text{(m)}}$Th$^{3+}$ by Doppler-cooled $^{88}$Sr$^{+}$ ions and the formation of mixed-species Coulomb crystals.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2019

The concept of laser-based conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy for a precise energy determination of $^{229m}$Th

$^{229}$Th is the only nucleus currently under investigation for the development of a nuclear optical clock (NOC) of ultra-high accuracy. The insufficient knowledge of the first nuclear excitation energy of $^{229}$Th has so far hindered direct nuclear laser spectroscopy of thorium ions and thus the development of a NOC. Here, a nuclear laser excitation scheme is detailed, which makes use of thorium atoms instead of ions. This concept, besides potentially leading to the first nuclear laser spectroscopy, would determine the isomeric energy to 40 $μ$eV resolution, corresponding to 10 GHz, which is a $10^4$ times improvement compared to the current best energy constraint. This would determine the nuclear isomeric energy to a sufficient accuracy to allow for nuclear laser spectroscopy of individual thorium ions in a Paul trap and thus the development of a single-ion nuclear optical clock.

nucl-ex↗