Quantum interference between nuclear excitation by electron capture and radiative recombination

Abstract

We investigate the quantum interference between the resonant process of nuclear excitation by electron capture (NEEC) followed by the radiative decay of the excited nucleus, and radiative recombination (RR). In order to derive the interference cross section, a Feshbach projection operator formalism is used. The electromagnetic field is considered by means of multipole fields. The nucleus is described by a phenomenological collective model and by making use of experimental data. The Fano profile parameters as well as the interference cross section for electric and magnetic multipole transitions in various heavy ions are presented. We discuss the experimental possibility of discerning NEEC from the RR background.