Design and Construction of an Electron Electric Dipole Moment Experiment Using Thorium Monoxide

ORAL

Abstract

Observation of an electron electric dipole moment (eEDM) would imply new sources of CP violation beyond the Standard Model. By measuring spin precession signals on a cryogenic molecular beam, the ACME collaboration is searching for the eEDM in the metastable H $^3\Delta_1$ state of thorium monoxide. We discuss the design and completed assembly of the first generation of this experiment. Precise electric and magnetic field sources, magnetic shields, and a fluorescence collection system have been constructed and installed, and the molecule beam source has been optimized.\footnote{N.R.~Hutzler \textit{et al.}, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 13, 18976-18985 (2011)} With this system we have begun collecting and analyzing eEDM data.

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Authors

  • Benjamin Spaun

    Harvard University

  • Paul Hess

    Harvard University

  • Nick Hutzler

    Harvard University

  • Elizabeth Petrik

    Harvard University

  • John Doyle

    Harvard University

  • Gerald Gabrielse

    Harvard University

  • Cheong Chan

    Yale University

  • Emil Kirilov

    Yale University

  • Brendon O'Leary

    Yale University

  • David DeMille

    Yale University