Resonant enhancement of oscillating electric field in atom

TL;DR

This paper investigates how atomic resonance can significantly amplify the electric field at the nucleus, with potential applications in nuclear processes and electron screening.

Contribution

It provides a systematic analysis of resonance-induced electric field enhancement at the nucleus, revealing possible amplification up to five orders of magnitude.

Findings

Resonance can greatly enhance electric fields at the nucleus.

Enhancement factors can reach five orders of magnitude.

Applications include laser-assisted neutron capture and nuclear transition screening.

Abstract

When an atom is placed into an oscillating electric field with frequency far from atomic resonances, the atomic electrons partly shield this field at the nucleus. It is conjectured that when the frequency of electric field reaches an atomic resonance, the electric field at the nucleus may be significantly enhanced. In this paper, we systematically study the mechanisms of this enhancement and show that it may reach five orders in magnitude in particular cases. As an application, we consider laser-assisted neutron capture in 139-Lanthanum nucleus and screening and resonance enhancement of nuclear electromagnetic transitions by electrons.