Electronic level structure of Th+ in the range of the Th 229m isomer energy

authored by

D. M. Meier, J. Thielking, P. Głowacki, M. V. Okhapkin, R. A. Müller, A. Surzhykov, E. Peik

Abstract

Using resonant two-step laser excitation of trapped Th+232 ions, we observe 166 previously unknown energy levels of even parity within the energy range from 7.8 to 9.8 eV and angular momenta from J=1/2 to 7/2. We also classify the high-lying levels observed in our earlier experiments by the total angular momentum and perform multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock calculations to compare their results with the observed level density. The observed levels can be relevant for the excitation or decay of the Th229m isomeric nuclear state which lies in this energy range. The high density of electronic levels promises a strongly enhanced electronic bridge excitation of the isomer in Th+229.

External Organisation(s)

Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt PTB
Poznan University of Technology
Technische Universität Braunschweig

Type

Article

Journal

Physical Review A

Volume

99

ISSN

2469-9926

Publication date

29.05.2019

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.99.052514 (Access: Unknown)