Search for the electric dipole moment of the electron with ThO

The thorium monoxide (ThO) molecule in its metastable H state has been identified as a promising system for measuring the permanent electric dipole moment of the electron (eEDM). We have begun an experiment to measure the eEDM using a high flux, cryogenic beam of ThO. We report our progress, including the production of cold ThO beams with an observed flux of $2 \times 10^{9}$ molecules per ablation shot. We also demonstrate optical pumping of molecules into the H state, which allows us to make a more accurate determination of the H state lifetime.