Thorium-229 Nuclear Clock Using a VUV Frequency Comb
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Beschreibung
This thesis documents the first realization of a nuclear clock, a promising next-generation platform for precision metrology and fundamental physics, based on a 8.4 eV transition in thorium-229. Using a vacuum ultraviolet frequency comb developed by the author, the narrow 229Th nuclear clock transition in a solid-state CaF2 host crystal was studied in high resolution spectroscopy, resulting in quantum state resolution to reveal the underlying nuclear structure and establishment of a direct frequency connection between the nuclear clock and an optical atomic clock. This work marks the start of nuclear-based solid-state optical clocks and demonstrates the first comparison of nuclear and atomic clocks for fundamental physics studies. The thesis represents a remarkable convergence of precision metrology, ultrafast strong-field physics, nuclear physics, and fundamental physics. The key results that comprise this thesis are: the unprecedented precision achieved for the measurement of the narrow nuclear transition (~100 kHz linewidth, ~600 s lifetime, and absolute frequency determination to 12 significant digits); a spectrum of nuclear quadrupole splitting peaks, and the direct determination of the ratio of quadrupole moments between the ground and isomeric states; and the detailed description and characterization of the world’s unique high resolution VUV frequency comb.
This thesis documents the first realization of a nuclear clock, a promising next-generation platform for precision metrology and fundamental physics, based on a 8.4 eV transition in thorium-229. Using a vacuum ultraviolet frequency comb developed by the author, the narrow 229Th nuclear clock transition in a solid-state CaF2 host crystal was studied in high resolution spectroscopy, resulting in quantum state resolution to reveal the underlying nuclear structure and establishment of a direct frequency connection between the nuclear clock and an optical atomic clock. This work marks the start of nuclear-based solid-state optical clocks and demonstrates the first comparison of nuclear and atomic clocks for fundamental physics studies. The thesis represents a remarkable convergence of precision metrology, ultrafast strong-field physics, nuclear physics, and fundamental physics. The key results that comprise this thesis are: the unprecedented precision achieved for the measurement of the narrow nuclear transition (~100 kHz linewidth, ~600 s lifetime, and absolute frequency determination to 12 significant digits); a spectrum of nuclear quadrupole splitting peaks, and the direct determination of the ratio of quadrupole moments between the ground and isomeric states; and the detailed description and characterization of the world’s unique high resolution VUV frequency comb.
Nominated as an outstanding PhD Thesis by the University of Colorado, Boulder, USA Documents the first realization of a nuclear clock Merges precision metrology, strong-field physics, and nuclear physics to open new pathways in fundamental physics
Autor*in
Chuankun Zhang
Themen in »Thorium-229 Nuclear Clock Using a VUV Frequency Comb«
Nuclear Clock Atomic Clock Precision Metrology Ultrafast Strong-field Physics Narrow Nuclear Transition VUV Spectroscopy VUV Frequency Comb Quadrupole Moment Nuclear Isomeric Transition in Thorium