Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 29, 2025
09:53
Molecular Beam Mass Spectrometry With Tunable Vacuum Ultraviolet VUV Synchrotron Radiation
Published on: October 30, 2012
13.0K
Tunable VUV frequency comb for 229mTh nuclear spectroscopy
Optics Letters
|May 23, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed a tunable vacuum-ultraviolet frequency comb for laser spectroscopy of the Thorium-229m nuclear clock transition. This advancement is crucial for building next-generation nuclear optical clocks.
Area of Science:
- Atomic Physics
- Quantum Optics
- Nuclear Physics
Background:
- The Thorium-229m (229mTh) nuclear clock transition is a promising candidate for next-generation optical clocks.
- Precise laser spectroscopy is required to probe the 229mTh transition.
- Vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) lasers are necessary for this spectroscopy due to the transition's energy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel tunable VUV frequency comb system.
- To enable laser spectroscopy of the 229mTh nuclear clock transition.
- To support the development of nuclear optical clocks.
Main Methods:
- Cavity-enhanced seventh-harmonic generation was employed to produce VUV light.
- A tunable frequency comb in the VUV spectrum was generated.
- The system's spectral coverage was characterized.
Main Results:
- A tunable VUV frequency comb was successfully demonstrated.
- The comb's spectrum spans the uncertainty range of the 229mTh nuclear clock transition.
- This provides a crucial tool for future 229mTh clock research.
Conclusions:
- The developed VUV frequency comb is a significant advancement for nuclear clock research.
- It facilitates precise laser spectroscopy of the 229mTh transition.
- This work paves the way for realizing nuclear-based optical clocks.
Related Concept Videos
01:16UV–Vis Spectroscopy: Molecular Electronic Transitions
1.6K
In Ultraviolet–Visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, the absorption of electromagnetic radiation is used to probe the electronic structure of molecules. This technique provides insights into molecular electronic transitions, particularly the movement of electrons between different molecular orbitals. Radiation is absorbed if the energy of the electromagnetic radiation passing through the molecule is precisely equal to the energy difference between the excited and ground states. During this...
1.6K
01:14UV–Vis Spectrometers
1.4K
The absorbance of UV and visible (UV–visible) radiations is measured using a UV–visible spectrophotometer. Deuterium lamps, which emit UV radiation, and tungsten lamps, which produce radiation in the visible region, are used as light sources in UV–visible spectrophotometers. A monochromator or prism is used for diffraction grating, i.e., to split the incoming radiation into different wavelengths. A system of slits is used to focus the desired wavelength on the sample cell.
1.4K
01:13Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy: Radiation and Light Sources
452
Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) relies on the Beer-Lambert law, which requires that the radiation source emits a narrow range of wavelengths to match the absorption characteristics of the analyte atom. The primary criteria for choosing an appropriate radiation source in AAS is to provide a precise and intense emission at specific wavelengths that will allow accurate detection of the analyte.
Two common narrow-range 'line' sources used in AAS are hollow-cathode lamps (HCLs) and...
Two common narrow-range 'line' sources used in AAS are hollow-cathode lamps (HCLs) and...
452
01:22Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy: Instrumentation
811
An atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) comprises several components: a radiation source, an atomizer, a monochromator, and a detector. The radiation source can be a hollow-cathode lamp (HCL) or an electrodeless-discharge lamp (EDL), both of which provide a narrow emission line of the required wavelength. However, some instruments use continuum sources and high-resolution monochromators to achieve a narrow range of radiation.
The atomizer used in AAS can be either a flame atomizer or an...
The atomizer used in AAS can be either a flame atomizer or an...
811
01:22Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Instrumentation
547
The instrumentation of atomic emission spectrometry (AES) involves various components, including atomization devices that convert samples into gas-phase atoms and ions. There are two main types of atomization devices: continuous and discrete atomizers. Continuous atomizers, like plasmas and flames, introduce samples in a constant stream, while discrete atomizers inject individual samples using syringes or autosamplers. The most common discrete atomizer is the electrothermal atomizer.
547
01:17NMR Spectrometers: Radiofrequency Pulses and Pulse Sequences
852
A pulse is a short burst of radio waves distributed over a range of frequencies that simultaneously excites all the nuclei in the sample. Upon passing a radio frequency pulse along the x-axis, the nuclei absorb energy corresponding to their Larmor frequencies and achieve resonance. This shifts the net magnetization vector from the z-axis toward the transverse plane. This angle of rotation of the magnetization vector, or the flip angle, is proportional to the duration and intensity of the pulse.
852