On Measuring the Electron Electric Dipole Moment in Trapped Molecular Ions

TL;DR

This paper proposes using trapped diatomic molecular ions in specific energy levels to measure the electron electric dipole moment, addressing experimental challenges in precision spectroscopy within dynamic electric fields.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach utilizing molecular ions and discusses experimental design and challenges for eEDM measurement in rapidly varying electric fields.

Findings

Use of $^3\Delta_1$ level enhances sensitivity to eEDM.

Trapped molecular ions enable long interrogation times.

Addressing electric field variation challenges in precision spectroscopy.

Abstract

Trapped diatomic molecular ions could prove to be a sensitive probe for a permanent electron electric dipole moment (eEDM). We propose to use a ground or metastable $^3\Delta_1$ level, due to its high polarizability and large EDM enhancement factor. Ions allow for simple trapping and long interrogation times, but require a time-varying electric bias field in order to probe the eEDM. We discuss experimental design as well as challenges in performing a precision spectroscopic measurement in rapidly time-varying electric fields.