Laser excitation of Th-229 nucleus: New findings suggest classical quantum
physics and nuclear physics can be combined
Physicists have been hoping for this moment for a long time: For many years, scientists all around the world have been searching for a very specific state of thorium-229 atomic nuclei that promises revolutionary technological applications. It could be used, for example, to build a nuclear clock that could measure time more precisely than the best atomic clocks available today. It could also be used to answer completely new fundamental questions in physics—for example, the question of whether the constants of nature are actually constant or whether they change in space and time.
The long-awaited discovery
The breakthrough came in November 2023, when a team of physicists at the Vienna University of Technology in Austria, led by Professor Thorsten Schumm, finally succeeded in exciting the thorium-229 nucleus using a laser. This is the first time that anyone has been able to manipulate an atomic nucleus in this way.
The team’s success was due in part to the use of a special crystal that contained a large number of thorium atoms. This allowed them to target a large number of nuclei simultaneously with the laser, increasing the chances of success.
What does this mean for the future?
The discovery of the thorium-229 transition has opened up a new era of research in nuclear physics. It could lead to the development of new types of nuclear clocks, which would be more precise than any existing clocks. It could also be used to study the fundamental properties of matter and the universe.
“This is a major breakthrough,” said Professor Schumm. “It opens up a whole new world of possibilities for nuclear physics.”
Implications for fundamental physics
The laser excitation of thorium-229 nucleus has profound implications for fundamental physics. It suggests that it may be possible to combine classical quantum physics with nuclear physics, two branches of physics that have been traditionally thought to be separate.
This could lead to a new understanding of the universe and its laws. It could also help to answer some of the most fundamental questions in physics, such as the question of whether the constants of nature are actually constant.
Conclusion
The laser excitation of thorium-229 nucleus is a major breakthrough that has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the universe. It is a testament to the power of human ingenuity and the relentless pursuit of knowledge.