Enhancing Nuclear Isomer Populations Using Ultrafast Electron Beams

Researchers from the Berkeley Lab ATAP Division and Berkeley Lab Nuclear Science Division have demonstrated a potential new and improved method for enhancing the population of isomer states (metastable states of atomic nuclei with a different energy and half-life than other states of the same nucleus) in atomic nuclei using ultrashort electron bunches from a laser-plasma accelerator (LPA).

This work demonstrates an alternative method for isomer production by highlighting the capability of LPAs, with their characteristic ultrashort electron beams, to enable novel nuclear physics experiments. With this new LPA approach, further study of these nuclear reactions could significantly impact our understanding of the processes behind astrophysical nucleosynthesis, isotope production for nuclear medicine, spent-fuel storage mitigation, non-proliferation, and national security.

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