The 229Th nucleus is the optimal candidate for the development of a nuclear clock due to the presence of a low-energy (8 ev) isomer, which can be accessed via vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) laser excitation. Recent experiments have yielded crucial insights into the nuclear characteristics of 229Th and its low-energy isomer, which is indispensable for achieving laser excitation. From the perspective of nuclear structure, however, the properties of 229Th and its low-energy isomer present a significant challenge. In this presentation, I will primarily focus on our recent calculations regarding the properties of 229Th and its low-energy isomer, with a particular emphasis on the reduced transition probabilities and magnetic dipole moment of the isomeric state. 

Biography

Dr. Pengwei Zhao received his Ph.D. degree from Peking University in 2012. Then, he worked at the Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics, Kyoto University as a research assistant professor and at Argonne National Laboratory as a postdoctoral fellow. In 2018, he became an Assistant Professor at PKU, and in early 2024, he has been promoted to Tenured Associate Professor. His research is mainly focused on the development of the relativistic nuclear many-body theory for novel nuclear structure and dynamics across the nuclear chart. 

Inviter

Shan-Gui Zhou