A method to detect the VUV photons from cooled $^{229}$Th:CaF$_2$ crystals
Fuente:
arXiv
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Preprint |
| Published: |
2024
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1866909454278066176 |
|---|---|
| author | Guan, Ming Bartokos, Michael Beeks, Kjeld Fukunaga, Yuta Hiraki, Takahiro Masuda, Takahiko Miyamoto, Yuki Okage, Ryoichiro Okai, Koichi Sasao, Noboru Schaden, Fabian Schumm, Thorsten Shimizu, Koutaro Takatori, Sayuri Yoshimi, Akihiro Yoshimura, Koji |
| author_facet | Guan, Ming Bartokos, Michael Beeks, Kjeld Fukunaga, Yuta Hiraki, Takahiro Masuda, Takahiko Miyamoto, Yuki Okage, Ryoichiro Okai, Koichi Sasao, Noboru Schaden, Fabian Schumm, Thorsten Shimizu, Koutaro Takatori, Sayuri Yoshimi, Akihiro Yoshimura, Koji |
| contents | Thorium-229, with its exceptionally low-energy nuclear excited state, is a key candidate for developing nuclear clocks. $^{229}$Th-doped CaF$_2$ crystals, benefiting from calcium fluoride's wide band gap, show great promise as solid-state nuclear clock materials. These crystals are excited by vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) lasers, which over time cause radiation damage. Cooling the crystals can mitigate this damage but introduces a challenge: photoabsorption. This occurs when residual gas molecules condense on the crystal surface, absorbing VUV photons and deteriorating detection efficiency. To solve this, we developed a cooling technique using a copper shield to surround the crystal, acting as a cold trap. This prevents ice-layer formation, even at temperatures below $-100\,^\circ$C, preserving high VUV photon detection efficiency. Our study detailed the experimental cooling setup and demonstrated the effectiveness of the copper shield in maintaining crystal performance, a critical improvement for future solid-state nuclear clocks operating at cryogenic temperatures. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2410_18134 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | A method to detect the VUV photons from cooled $^{229}$Th:CaF$_2$ crystals Guan, Ming Bartokos, Michael Beeks, Kjeld Fukunaga, Yuta Hiraki, Takahiro Masuda, Takahiko Miyamoto, Yuki Okage, Ryoichiro Okai, Koichi Sasao, Noboru Schaden, Fabian Schumm, Thorsten Shimizu, Koutaro Takatori, Sayuri Yoshimi, Akihiro Yoshimura, Koji Instrumentation and Detectors Nuclear Experiment Thorium-229, with its exceptionally low-energy nuclear excited state, is a key candidate for developing nuclear clocks. $^{229}$Th-doped CaF$_2$ crystals, benefiting from calcium fluoride's wide band gap, show great promise as solid-state nuclear clock materials. These crystals are excited by vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) lasers, which over time cause radiation damage. Cooling the crystals can mitigate this damage but introduces a challenge: photoabsorption. This occurs when residual gas molecules condense on the crystal surface, absorbing VUV photons and deteriorating detection efficiency. To solve this, we developed a cooling technique using a copper shield to surround the crystal, acting as a cold trap. This prevents ice-layer formation, even at temperatures below $-100\,^\circ$C, preserving high VUV photon detection efficiency. Our study detailed the experimental cooling setup and demonstrated the effectiveness of the copper shield in maintaining crystal performance, a critical improvement for future solid-state nuclear clocks operating at cryogenic temperatures. |
| title | A method to detect the VUV photons from cooled $^{229}$Th:CaF$_2$ crystals |
| topic | Instrumentation and Detectors Nuclear Experiment |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.18134 |