Darmstadt 2008 – wissenschaftliches Programm

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A: Fachverband Atomphysik

A 29: Electron scattering and recombination

A 29.1: Hauptvortrag

Freitag, 14. März 2008, 11:00–11:30, 3D

Bridging atomic and nuclear physics in nuclear excitation by electron capture — •Adriana Pálffy, Jörg Evers, and Christoph H. Keitel — Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Heidelberg

In the resonant process of nuclear excitation by electron capture (NEEC), the recombination of a continuum electron into a bound atomic shell leads to the excitation of the nucleus [1].

NEEC can act as an efficient nuclear excitation mechanism, in particular as triggering mechanism releasing on demand the energy stored in nuclear isomers - long-lived nuclear excited states [2]. The isomeric state can be excited via NEEC to a higher level which is associated with freely radiating states and therefore releases the energy of the metastable state. We present total cross sections for NEEC isomer triggering considering experimentally confirmed low-lying triggering levels and reaction rates based on realistic experimental parameters in ion storage rings. A comparison with other isomer triggering mechanisms shows that, among these, NEEC is the most efficient one [3].

An experimental verification of our findings at the borderline of atomic and nuclear physics may be provided by upcoming ion storage ring facilities and ion beam traps which will commence operation in the near future.

[1] A. Pálffy, W. Scheid, Z. Harman, Phys. Rev. A 73, 012715 (2006)

[2] P. M. Walker and G. D. Dracoulis, Nature 399, 35 (1999)

[3] A. Pálffy, J. Evers, C. H. Keitel, Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 172502 (2007)