Measurement of the Electron's Electric Dipole Moment Using G=0 PbF Molecules

University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus, Norman OK

Investigators

Abstract

The level of Charge-Parity violation observed in the decay of mesons, and incorporated into the Standard Model, cannot explain the matter-antimatter asymmetry of the Universe, indicating that the Standard Model might not be the final answer. One place in which to search for physics beyond the Standard Model is to look for a system with a non-zero permanent electric dipole moment (EDM). This experimental research program will do this by taking advantage of the remarkable insensitivity of the lead flouride (PbF) molecule to magnetic fields to improve the limit on the electrons electric dipole moment by one order of magnitude over current existing measurements. To carry out the experiment a PbF molecular beam source recently constructed using University of Oklahoma Research Council funds will be used in an optical resonance experiment. The broader impact of the program involves graduate education as well as involvement in a broader collaboration on the electron EDM led by the Brookhaven National Laboratory.