Progress on State Preparation and Electrostatic Focusing of ²⁰⁵TlF in CeNTREX

The aim of CeNTREX (Cold molecule Nuclear Time-Reversal EXperiment) is to search for the time-reversal and parity-violating Schiff moment of the ²⁰⁵Tl nucleus. With the expected experimental sensitivity we would be able to set competitive bounds on θ_qcd, quark chromo electric dipole moments (cEDMs), and the proton EDM. The energy shift resulting from the ²⁰⁵Tl Schiff moment is amplified in the polar molecule thallium fluoride (TlF), relative to the case in atoms. To maximize sensitivity, rotational cooling pumps the thermal population predominantly into the F=0 hyperfine state of the J=0 manifold, where (where F is the total angular momentum including nuclear spin and J is the rotational angular momentum). In order to collimate the expanding molecular beam an Electrostatic Quadrupole Lens (EQL) is used for focussing. This is performed in the weak field seeking J=2, m_J=0 states (where m_J is the projection along a quantization axis). Hence we perform transfer of population from J=0, F=0 state to J=2, mF=0 states, via adiabatic passage provided by dual microwave transitions in a region we denote as State Preparation A. Spatially varying electrostatic fields provide the required time-varying detuning as the molecular beam moves through. This talk will discuss results of the characterization of State Preparation A and the Electrostatic Quadrupole Lens perfomance.