Enhanced Yield Rate of \textsuperscript{229m}Th via Cascade Decay in Storage Rings and Electron Beam Ion Traps

Fuente: arXiv
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Autori principali: Wang, Yumiao, Yang, Yi, Li, Yixin, Yue, Ding, Zhao, Kai, Wang, Youjing, Fu, Changbo, Ma, Yugang
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2026
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author Wang, Yumiao
Yang, Yi
Li, Yixin
Yue, Ding
Zhao, Kai
Wang, Youjing
Fu, Changbo
Ma, Yugang
author_facet Wang, Yumiao
Yang, Yi
Li, Yixin
Yue, Ding
Zhao, Kai
Wang, Youjing
Fu, Changbo
Ma, Yugang
contents The low-energy nuclear isomeric state of \textsuperscript{229m}Th provides a unique bridge between nuclear and atomic physics, enabling applications such as nuclear clocks and precision metrology. However, efficient and controllable production of \textsuperscript{229m}Th remains a major experimental challenge. We propose an efficient scheme to produce the $^{229\mathrm{m}}$Th in storage rings (SRs) and electron beam ion traps (EBITs), using a cascade decay pathway. Highly charged ions are excited to higher nuclear states via nuclear excitation by inelastic electron scattering (NEIES) and nuclear excitation by electron capture (NEEC), followed by radiative or internal conversion cascades that populate the isomer. Our calculations demonstrate that, under typical SRs and EBITs conditions, optimized indirect excitation pathways significantly enhance \textsuperscript{229m}Th production rate. In particular, NEIES can provide an enhancement of up to four orders of magnitude through cascade de-excitation at high energies, while NEEC can contribute an additional enhancement of up to several tens of times. Such a significant increase in the \textsuperscript{229m}Th yield rate would facilitate its application in various nuclear photonics fields, especially in the development of atomic nuclear clocks.
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id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2601_22417
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Enhanced Yield Rate of \textsuperscript{229m}Th via Cascade Decay in Storage Rings and Electron Beam Ion Traps
Wang, Yumiao
Yang, Yi
Li, Yixin
Yue, Ding
Zhao, Kai
Wang, Youjing
Fu, Changbo
Ma, Yugang
Nuclear Theory
Atomic Physics
The low-energy nuclear isomeric state of \textsuperscript{229m}Th provides a unique bridge between nuclear and atomic physics, enabling applications such as nuclear clocks and precision metrology. However, efficient and controllable production of \textsuperscript{229m}Th remains a major experimental challenge. We propose an efficient scheme to produce the $^{229\mathrm{m}}$Th in storage rings (SRs) and electron beam ion traps (EBITs), using a cascade decay pathway. Highly charged ions are excited to higher nuclear states via nuclear excitation by inelastic electron scattering (NEIES) and nuclear excitation by electron capture (NEEC), followed by radiative or internal conversion cascades that populate the isomer. Our calculations demonstrate that, under typical SRs and EBITs conditions, optimized indirect excitation pathways significantly enhance \textsuperscript{229m}Th production rate. In particular, NEIES can provide an enhancement of up to four orders of magnitude through cascade de-excitation at high energies, while NEEC can contribute an additional enhancement of up to several tens of times. Such a significant increase in the \textsuperscript{229m}Th yield rate would facilitate its application in various nuclear photonics fields, especially in the development of atomic nuclear clocks.
title Enhanced Yield Rate of \textsuperscript{229m}Th via Cascade Decay in Storage Rings and Electron Beam Ion Traps
topic Nuclear Theory
Atomic Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.22417