Electron electric dipole moment searches using clock transitions in ultracold molecules

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel method using magnetically-insensitive hyperfine clock transitions in ultracold polar molecules to enhance the precision and accuracy of electron EDM searches, probing physics beyond the standard model.

Contribution

It presents a new measurement technique leveraging clock transitions in ultracold molecules, overcoming magnetic field sensitivity limitations in EDM experiments.

Findings

Demonstrates improved measurement precision for electron EDMs

Provides a method to reduce magnetic field-related systematic errors

Enhances the potential for discovering new physics beyond the standard model

Abstract

Permanent electric dipole moments (EDMs) of fundamental particles such as the electron are signatures of parity and time-reversal violation due to physics beyond the standard model. EDM measurements probe new physics at energy scales well beyond the reach of present-day colliders. Recent advances in assembling molecules from ultracold atoms have opened up new opportunities for improving the reach of EDM experiments. But better measurement techniques, that are not limited by the magnetic field sensitivity of such molecules, are necessary before these opportunities can be fully exploited. We present a technique that takes advantage of magnetically-insensitive hyperfine clock transitions in polar molecules, and offers new ways to improve both the precision and accuracy of EDM searches with ultracold assembled molecules.