Spin interferometry in a beam of ultracold molecules

TL;DR

This paper presents a spin interferometer using ultracold YbF molecules to measure the electron's electric dipole moment, detailing the techniques and sensitivities involved.

Contribution

It develops a complete experimental setup and methodology for using ultracold molecules in spin interferometry to detect the electron EDM.

Findings

Achieved high-efficiency state preparation and readout.

Characterized the sensitivity of the interferometer to $d_e$.

Demonstrated the potential for precise electron EDM measurements.

Abstract

We describe a spin interferometer using ultracold YbF molecules and develop the complete set of techniques needed to measure the electron's electric dipole moment, $d_e$, with this apparatus. The molecules are cooled in an optical molasses and prepared in a single internal quantum state. A Raman transition prepares a spin superposition which evolves in parallel magnetic and electric fields before a second Raman transition maps the phase onto the populations of two hyperfine states. These populations are read out using detectors that have spatial and temporal resolution and approach unit efficiency. We characterize the efficiencies and fidelities of all these steps and evaluate the sensitivity of this approach to measuring $d_e$.