Electric dipole moment searches: reexamination of frequency shifts for particles in traps

TL;DR

This paper develops a comprehensive theoretical framework to better understand frequency shifts caused by geometric phase effects in electric dipole moment experiments, especially for complex geometries and magnetic field configurations.

Contribution

It introduces a generalized theory for geometric phase-induced frequency shifts applicable to arbitrary cell shapes and magnetic field inhomogeneities, extending previous models.

Findings

Reproduced earlier numerical results on magnetic impurity effects.

Extended the theory to non-cylindrical geometries.

Enhanced understanding of false signals in EDM experiments.

Abstract

In experiments searching for a nonzero electric dipole moment of trapped particles, frequency shifts correlated with an applied electric field can be interpreted as a false signal. One such effect, referred to as the geometric phase effect, is known to occur in a magnetic field that is nonperfectly homogeneous. The increase in sensitivity of experiments demands improved theoretical description of this effect. In the case of fast particles, like atoms at room temperature and low pressure, the validity of established theories was limited to a cylindrical confinement cell in a uniform gradient with cylindrical symmetry. We develop a more general theory valid for an arbitrary shape of the magnetic field as well as for arbitrary geometry of the confinement cell. Our improved theory is especially relevant for experiments measuring the neutron electric dipole moment with an atomic comagnetometer. In this context, we have reproduced and extended earlier numerical studies of the geometric phase effect induced by localized magnetic impurities.