Pulsed beams as field probes for precision measurement

TL;DR

This paper introduces a pulsed beam technique for high-precision spatial mapping of static and rf magnetic and electric fields, enhancing diagnostic capabilities in atomic and molecular physics experiments.

Contribution

It presents a novel method using pulsed atomic/molecular beams to map field variations with high spatial resolution, applicable to precision measurements like electron electric dipole moment experiments.

Findings

Achieved electric field variation sensitivity of 1.5 V/cm at 3.3 kV/cm

Mapped magnetic field variation of 5 nT with 25 mm resolution

Measured radio-frequency magnetic field amplitude with 15 mm resolution

Abstract

We describe a technique for mapping the spatial variation of static electric, static magnetic, and rf magnetic fields using a pulsed atomic or molecular beam. The method is demonstrated using a beam designed to measure the electric dipole moment of the electron. We present maps of the interaction region, showing sensitivity to (i) electric field variation of 1.5 V/cm at 3.3 kV/cm with a spatial resolution of 15 mm; (ii) magnetic field variation of 5 nT with 25 mm resolution; (iii) radio-frequency magnetic field amplitude with 15 mm resolution. This new diagnostic technique is very powerful in the context of high-precision atomic and molecular physics experiments, where pulsed beams have not hitherto found widespread application.