In the last months Fabian Schaden, a new PhD student, has joined the team at the TU Wien.

Here are a few words from Fabian:

I am doing my PhD in the Quantum Metrology Group and I will be responsible for direct excitation of the ²²⁹Th isotope. We are currently looking into two different ways how to achieve this. One is via VUV photons and the other one via radioactive decay.

For the first one I will design a vacuum system consisting of a capture and focusing mirror as well as an Excimer lamp as the VUV source and a ²²⁹Th doped CaF₂ crystal. This will be the main direct excitation experiment and will probably be relatively time consuming.
For the second one we already have a setup but I am currently trying to improve this since the current resolution seems to be insufficient. So far we have used ²³³U doped CaF₂ crystal but we are also considering growing ²²⁶Ra/²²⁸Ra doped ones. They can then be neutron activated and turn via several β^– decays into the excited state of ^229mTh. Since this involves the research reactor more planning and preparation is needed. I will look into this and redesign the setup if necessary.
These are the main big tasks I am responsible for in the upcoming year(s). But since we are a small team the other ones will help me out with direct excitation just as I am going to help with crystal characterisation, color center characterisation, crystal growing and NQR.

Welcome to the Team, Fabian!