Abstract
The decay channels and the half-life of the proposed anomalously low-energy nuclear isomer in a dielectric and in metals are discussed. The preferred decay channel in wide energy-gap dielectrics is via nuclear emission in the optical range. The isomer’s half-life lies in the range 10 min–1 h in for the spectral range Nonradiative decay channels dominate in metals. A two-step experimental scheme is developed. The first step is the excitation of the low-energy isomeric level by synchrotron radiation via the 29- and 72-keV levels, and precise measurement of the wave length of the low-energy nuclear transition in The second step is the excitation of a large number of the isomeric nuclei from the ground state by laser radiation in thorium dioxide, and investigation of the decay of the isomeric level.
- Received 13 January 2000
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.61.064308
©2000 American Physical Society