Tailoring laser-generated plasmas for efficient nuclear excitation by electron capture

TL;DR

This paper theoretically investigates how to optimize laser-generated plasma parameters to maximize nuclear excitation via electron capture, demonstrating potential for experimental realization with current laser technology.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of plasma conditions for efficient nuclear excitation, highlighting the optimal parameters and comparing plasma-mediated excitation to other methods.

Findings

Nuclear excitation rate peaks at specific laser parameters.

Plasma-mediated excitation can be up to twelve times more effective than direct resonance.

Experimental observation is feasible with current high-power laser facilities.

Abstract

The optimal parameters for nuclear excitation by electron capture in plasma environments generated by the interaction of ultra-strong optical lasers with solid matter are investigated theoretically. As a case study we consider a 4.85 keV nuclear transition starting from the long-lived $^{93\mathrm{m}}$Mo isomer that can lead to the release of the stored 2.4 MeV excitation energy. We find that due to the complex plasma dynamics, the nuclear excitation rate and the actual number of excited nuclei do not reach their maximum at the same laser parameters. The nuclear excitation achievable with a high-power optical laser is up to twelve and up to six orders of magnitude larger than the values predicted for direct resonant and secondary plasma-mediated excitation at the x-ray free electron laser, respectively. Our results show that the experimental observation of the nuclear excitation of $^{93\mathrm{m}}$Mo and the subsequent release of stored energy should be possible at laser facilities available today.