Prospects for a Nuclear Optical Frequency Standard based on Thorium-229

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential of using Thorium-229's low-energy nuclear isomer as a basis for highly accurate optical frequency standards, either via trapped ions or solid-state devices.

Contribution

It reviews the properties of Thorium-229's isomer and discusses its potential application in developing advanced nuclear-based optical clocks.

Findings

Thorium-229's isomer can serve as a stable reference for optical clocks.

Potential for high accuracy and stability in nuclear-based frequency standards.

Feasibility of using trapped ions or solid-state systems for implementation.

Abstract

The 7.6-eV-isomer of Thorium-229 offers the opportunity to perform high resolution laser spectroscopy of a nuclear transition. We give a brief review of the investigations of this isomer. The nuclear resonance connecting ground state and isomer may be used as the reference of an optical clock of very high accuracy using trapped and laser-cooled thorium ions, or in a compact solid-state optical frequency standard of high stability.