# Search for the Electric Dipole Moment of the Electron with Thorium Monoxide

 Title: Search for the Electric Dipole Moment of the Electron with Thorium Monoxide Author: Campbell, Wesley; DeMille, David; Vultha, Amar; Gurevich, Yulia Vsevolodovna; Hutzler, Nicholas Richard; Parsons, Maxwell Fredrick; Patterson, David; Petrik, Elizabeth Sarah; Spaun, Benjamin Norman; Gabrielse, Gerald; Doyle, John M. Note: Order does not necessarily reflect citation order of authors. Citation: Vultha, Amar, Wesley Campbell, Yulia Gurevich, Nicholas Hutzler, Maxwell Parsons, David Patterson, Elizabeth Petrik, and et al. 2010. Search for the electric dipole moment of the electron with thorium monoxide. Journal of Physics B 43(7): 074007. Full Text & Related Files: 0908.2412v2.pdf (688.2Kb; PDF) Abstract: The electric dipole moment of the electron (eEDM) is a signature of CP-violating physics beyond the Standard Model. We describe an ongoing experiment to measure or set improved limits to the eEDM, using a cold beam of thorium monoxide (ThO) molecules. The metastable $$H$$ $$^{3}$$$$\Delta$$$$_{ 1}$$ state in ThO has important advantages for such an experiment. We argue that the statistical uncertainty of an eEDM measurement could be improved by as much as 3 orders of magnitude compared to the current experimental limit, in a first-generation apparatus using a cold ThO beam. We describe our measurements of the $$H$$ state lifetime and the production of ThO molecules in a beam, which provide crucial data for the eEDM sensitivity estimate. ThO also has ideal properties for the rejection of a number of known systematic errors; these properties and their implications are described. Published Version: doi:10.1088/0953-4075/43/7/074007 Other Sources: http://arxiv.org/abs/0908.2412 Terms of Use: This article is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Open Access Policy Articles, as set forth at http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:dash.current.terms-of-use#OAP Citable link to this page: http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:6612626 Downloads of this work: