Search for a ''3.5-eV isomer'' in {sup 229}Th in a hollow-cathode electric discharge
- RIKEN Nishina Center, Wako, Saitama 351-0198 (Japan)
A hollow-cathode electric discharge, a well-established source in optical spectroscopy, was used to populate the ''3.5-eV isomer'' in {sup 229}Th with use of nuclear excitation by electron transition (NEET). The radiochemically purest {sup 229}Th sample was loaded into the hollow cathode in which the electric discharge excited the {sup 229}Th to atomic states some of which could be expected to lie close to the excitation energy of the sought isomer. Although there remain some uncertainties, our experiments indicate that the isomer was populated by NEET and its {alpha} decay observed after switching off the electric discharge with a corresponding isomer half-life 1 min < or approx. T{sub 1/2}{sup m} < or approx. 3 min. From the present NEET condition, the isomer appears to lie between 3 eV and 7 eV. The probability of the isomer population by NEET is discussed.
- OSTI ID:
- 21199613
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review. C, Nuclear Physics, Vol. 79, Issue 3; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevC.79.034313; (c) 2009 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0556-2813
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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