Supervisor: Karsten Riisager

The recent discovery of a low-lying metastable excited state in the Th-229 nucleus has reinvigorated the pursuit of nuclear lasers, a concept theorized for over half a century but hindered by practical challenges. This breakthrough, achieved through optical stimulation, marks a significant step towards realizing nuclear laser technology. This presentation explores the theoretical foundations of nuclear lasers and their potential applications, with a focus on the Th-229 nucleus.

We begin by examining fundamental laser principles and relevant nuclear physics, highlighting how these fields converge to enable nuclear laser development. The discussion then delves into the unique properties of Th-229 that make it a promising candidate for nuclear laser medium. Additionally, we analyze the feasibility of other specific nuclei for this purpose.

By bridging atomic and nuclear physics, this presentation aims to elucidate the current state of nuclear laser research, its challenges, and the exciting possibilities that lie ahead in this field.