Search for Electric dipole moment (EDM) in laser cooled and trapped $^{225}$Ra atoms

POSTER

Abstract

We are searching for an EDM of the diamagnetic $^{225}$Ra atom. $^{225}$Ra has nuclear spin I$=$1/2. Experimental sensitivity to its EDM is enhanced due to its heavy mass and the increased Schiff moment of its octupole deformed nucleus. Our experiment involves collecting laser cooled Ra atoms in a magneto-optical trap (MOT), transporting them 1 meter with a far off-resonant optical dipole trap (ODT) and then transferring the atoms to a second standing-wave ODT in our experimental chamber. We will report our recent experiences in polarizing and observing Larmor precession of $^{225}$Ra atoms in parallel electric and magnetic fields in a magnetically shielded region and progress towards a first measurement of the EDM of $^{225}$Ra.

*This work is supported by DOE, Office of Nuclear Physics, under contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357 and contract No. DE-FG02-99ER41101

Authors

  • Mukut Kalita

    • University of Kentucky/ Argonne National Laboratory

  • Kevin Bailey

    • Argonne National Laboratory

  • Matthew Dietrich

    • Argonne National Laboratory

  • John Green

    • Argonne National Laboratory

  • Roy Holt

    • Argonne National Laboratory

  • Wolfgang Korsch

    • University of Kentucky

  • Zheng-Tian Lu

    • Argonne National Laboratory/University of Chicago

  • Nathan Lemke

    • Argonne National Laboratory

  • Peter Mueller

    • Argonne National Laboratory

  • Tom O'Connor

    • Argonne National Laboratory

  • Richard Parker

    • University of Chicago/Argonne National Laboratory

  • Jaideep Singh

    • Technische Universit\"at M\"unchen

  • Will Trimble

    • Argonne National Laboratory