Physicists have finally achieved the long-awaited “thorium transition” using lasers, paving the way for extraordinary high precision technologies like nuclear clocks. The success of manipulating thorium atomic nuclei opens up possibilities for revolutionary applications in time measurement and fundamental physics. Despite the challenges of finding the precise energy transition within thorium nuclei, the team led by Prof. Thorsten Schumm from TU Wien has successfully accomplished this feat. By utilizing specially developed thorium-containing crystals, the research team managed to induce the energy transition, marking a significant breakthrough. This achievement sets the stage for exciting advancements in precision measurements and potential answers to fundamental questions in physics.
https://www.tuwien.at/en/tu-wien/news/news-articles/news/lange-erhoffter-durchbruch-erstmals-atomkern-mit-laser-angeregt