Trapped (Radioactive) Molecules -- A New Path for Laser-based Parity Violation Measurements

This talk will introduce NEPTUNE, a new experiment at MIT and Texas A&M's Cyclotron Institute, where ion trapping and laser spectroscopy techniques are combined for precise measurements of fundamental symmetries and previously unexplored nuclear electroweak properties [Phys. Rev. Lett. 133, 033003 (2024)]. Specifically, single trapped molecular ions can significantly enhance sensitivity to nuclear-spin-dependent parity-violating effects, such as the nuclear anapole moment, by over 12 orders of magnitude compared to atoms. The talk will cover the project's current status, our new Quantum Sensing Lab at the Texas A&M Cyclotron Institute, and prospects for measurements of radioactive molecules.