Impact of the ionization of the atomic shell on the lifetime of the 229mTh isomer

TL;DR

This paper analyzes how atomic shell ionization affects the half-life of the 229mTh isomer, proposing a new physics concept where nuclear lifetime depends on environmental conditions like pressure.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach combining traditional and subthreshold resonance conversion to explain half-life variations and predicts effects in different ionization states.

Findings

Agreement with experimental data for Th I and Th III

Prediction of half-life in Th IV

Proposal of environment-dependent nuclear lifetime

Abstract

Recent experimental data are analyzed, concerning the half-lives of the 229mTh isomer in neutral atoms and various ions. Calculation is performed on the united platform of interplay of traditional and subthreshold resonance conversion. General agreement with experiment is obtained in the cases of Th I and Th III, a prediction is made concerning half-life in Th IV. Most critical is the case of Th II, where experimental data can be explained by interplay of various factors. A new physics is proposed, based on dependence of the nuclear lifetime on the ambient conditions, such as atmospheric pressure. This must be taken into account in future experiments and their interpretation.