Energy of the Th nuclear clock isomer determined by absolute -ray energy difference

Yamaguchi, Atsushi*; Muramatsu, Haruka*; Hayashi, Tasuku*; Yuasa, Naoki*; Nakamura, Keisuke  ; Takimoto, Misaki  ; Haba, Hiromitsu*; Konashi, Kenji*; Watanabe, Makoto*; Kikunaga, Hidetoshi*; Maehata, Keisuke*; Yamasaki, Noriko*; Mitsuda, Kazuhisa*

The low-lying isomeric state of Th provides unique opportunities for high-resolution laser spectroscopy of the atomic nucleus. We determine the energy of this isomeric state by measuring the absolute energy difference between two -decays from the 29.2-keV second-excited state. A transition-edge sensor microcalorimeter was used to measure the absolute energy of the 29.2-keV -ray with improved precision. Together with the cross-band transition energy (29.2 keVground) and the branching ratio of the 29.2-keV state measured in a recent study, the isomer energy was determined to be 8.300.88 eV. Our result is in agreement with latest measurements based on different experimental techniques, which further confirms that the isomeric state of Th is in the laser-accessible vacuum ultraviolet range.