Fenker, Kalee

Laser-Based Means for Accelerating Nuclear Decay Rate

This project aims to replicate and build upon a reported series of results whereby nuclear decay of unstable species has been accelerated under laser irradiation in the presence of resonantly excited plasmonic nanoparticles. Most theoretical investigations of this problem do not predict the enhancement to be significant. Further, alternate explanations for the observed decrease in signals associated with the supposedly destroyed species need to be examined. There are potentially substantial benefits from exploiting this effect to reduce the long-term radiological storage requirements of certain forms of nuclear waste. These benefits merit the confirmation or disproving of the effect.