Upgrading the ACME electron EDM search with a molecular lens

POSTER

Abstract

Measurements~of the electron~electric dipole moment (EDM) using cold molecules~set very powerful constraints on T-violating new physics beyond the Standard Model. The best upper limit on the electron EDM was recently set by the ACME collaboration: \textbar de\textbar \textless 1.1E-29 e\textbullet cm [Nature~562,~355 (2018)], using thorium~monoxide (ThO). A major upgrade in statistics for next generation of ACME is now underway, using a molecular lens to focus molecule flux into the EDM measurement region. Here, we report the first measurements [arXiv:1911.03015] of relevant properties of the Q state, which appears ideal for molecular lensing. Also, we demonstrate a double-STIRAP procedure that transfers population into and out of the Q state with 90{\%} efficiency. These combined with trajectory simulations on an electrostatic hexapole allow us to project a signal rate improvement by over an order of magnitude relative to an unfocused molecular beam.

*NSF # PHY1912513

Authors

  • Xing Wu

    • Yale University

  • Daniel G. Ang

    • Harvard University

  • James Chow

    • Yale University

  • David DeMille

    • Yale University

  • John M. Doyle

    • Harvard University

  • Gerald Gabrielse

    • Northwestern University

  • Zhen Han

    • Yale University

  • Bingjie Hao

    • Northwestern University

  • Peiran Hu

    • Yale University

  • Nicholas Hutzler

    • California Institute of Technology

  • Daniel Lascar

    • Northwestern University

  • Siyuan Liu

    • Northwestern University

  • Cole Meisenhelder

    • Harvard University

  • Takahiko Masuda

    • Okayama University

  • Cristian D. Panda

    • University of California, Berkeley

  • Noboru Sasao

    • Okayama University

  • Satoshi Uetake

    • Okayama University

  • Koji Yoshimura

    • Okayama University