Analysis of Parasitic Signals in the Method of Recoil Nuclei Applied to Direct Observation of the Th-229m Isomeric State

TL;DR

This paper provides theoretical analysis of parasitic signals affecting the detection of Th-229m isomeric state using recoil nuclei, focusing on Cherenkov radiation, phosphorescence, and fluorescence in the detection crystal.

Contribution

It offers a detailed theoretical justification for the recoil nuclei method and discusses strategies to mitigate parasitic signals in detecting Th-229m decay photons.

Findings

Identification of key parasitic signals affecting detection

Analysis of Cherenkov radiation, phosphorescence, and fluorescence

Proposals for avoiding parasitic signals in experimental setups

Abstract

We carry out necessary theoretical justifications for the method of recoil nuclei in application to direct observation of the Th-229m isomeric state. We consider Cherenkov radiation, phosphorescence and fluorescence in the crystal plate which is used for collecting of thorium recoil nuclei and discuss the ways to avoid these parasitic signals revealing the Th-229m decay photons.