On the feasibility of a nuclear exciton laser

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential of a nuclear exciton laser based on coherent nuclear excitations, highlighting its advantages and current technological limitations, with feasibility prospects in the UV spectrum.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of a nuclear exciton laser and analyzes its feasibility, contrasting it with free electron lasers and discussing practical implementation challenges.

Findings

The nuclear exciton laser could offer high energy-momentum precision.

Current technology does not support the operational window for such a laser.

Feasibility is more promising in the UV spectrum.

Abstract

Nuclear excitons known from M\"ossbauer spectroscopy describe coherent excitations of a large number of nuclei -- analogous to Dicke states (or Dicke super-radiance) in quantum optics. In this paper, we study the possibility of constructing a laser based on these coherent excitations. In contrast to the free electron laser (in its usual design), such a device would be based on stimulated emission and thus might offer certain advantages, e.g., regarding energy-momentum accuracy. Unfortunately, inserting realistic parameters, the window of operability is probably not open (yet) to present-day technology -- but our design should be feasible in the UV regime, for example.