Search for the electric dipole moment of the electron with thorium monoxide
Abstract
The electric dipole moment of the electron (eEDM) is a signature of CP-violating physics beyond the standard model. We describe an ongoing experiment to measure or set improved limits to the eEDM, using a cold beam of thorium monoxide (ThO) molecules. The metastable H^3Δ_1 state in ThO has important advantages for such an experiment. We argue that the statistical uncertainty of an eEDM measurement could be improved by as much as three orders of magnitude compared to the current experimental limit, in a first-generation apparatus using a cold ThO beam. We describe our measurements of the H state lifetime and the production of ThO molecules in a beam, which provide crucial data for the eEDM sensitivity estimate. ThO also has ideal properties for the rejection of a number of known systematic errors; these properties and their implications are described.
Additional Information
© 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd. Received 17 August 2009 In final form 24 September 2009 Published 19 March 2010 We acknowledge the technical assistance of Jim MacArthur and Stan Cotreau in the construction of apparatus. AV and DD acknowledge stimulating discussions with Paul Hamilton during the early stages of the project. DD thanks Dmitry Budker for discussions about systematic effects in eEDM measurements using J = 1 systems. This work was supported by the US National Science FoundationAttached Files
Submitted - 0908.2412.pdf
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Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 81123
- DOI
- 10.1088/0953-4075/43/7/074007
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20170905-083238260
- NSF
- Created
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2017-09-05Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
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2022-07-12Created from EPrint's last_modified field