Progress towards a measurement of the electron electric dipole moment with trapped molecular ions

POSTER

Abstract

Trapped molecular ions are well suited to searches for the electric dipole moment of the electron (eEDM) due to the long coherence times possible. The current experiment at JILA focuses on the metastable $^3\Delta_1$ level of HfF$^+$ in a Paul trap. We have now demonstrated the ability to state-selectively transfer population to the desired $^3\Delta_1$ $J = 1$ states in the ion trap and to efficiently read-out the population using photodissociation. Using these techniques, we performed detailed characterizations of the hyperfine and Zeeman states with the application of rotating electric fields and magnetic fields. This has enabled initial attempts at Ramsey spectroscopy of the eEDM sensitive states.

Authors

  • Kevin Cossel

    • JILA, NIST and University of Colorado-Boulder, and Department of Physics, University of Colorado-Boulder
    • JILA, National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Colorado, Department of Physics

  • Huanqian Loh

    • JILA, NIST and University of Colorado-Boulder, and Department of Physics, University of Colorado-Boulder

  • Kang-Kuen Ni

    • JILA, NIST and University of Colorado-Boulder, and Department of Physics, University of Colorado-Boulder
    • JILA, NIST and University of Colorado (Boulder)

  • Matt Grau

    • JILA, NIST and University of Colorado-Boulder, and Department of Physics, University of Colorado-Boulder

  • Dan Gresh

    • JILA, NIST and University of Colorado-Boulder, and Department of Physics, University of Colorado-Boulder

  • Jun Ye

    • JILA, NIST, University of Colorado, Boulder
    • JILA, National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Colorado, Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
    • JILA/University of Colorado at Boulder
    • JILA, National Institute of Standards and Technology and Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
    • JILA, University of CO, Boulder and NIST
    • JILA, NIST and University of Colorado-Boulder, and Department of Physics, University of Colorado-Boulder
    • JILA, National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Colorado, Department of Physics
    • JILA, NIST, and University of Colorado-Boulder

  • Eric Cornell

    • JILA, NIST and the University of Colorado
    • JILA, NIST and University of Colorado-Boulder, and Department of Physics, University of Colorado-Boulder