Measuring the electron's electric dipole moment using ultracold molecules

Informations projet

UltracoldEDM

N° de convention de subvention: 101018992

DOI

10.3030/101018992

Projet clôturé le 22 Avril 2022

Date de signature de la CE 17 Mars 2021

Date de début 14 Mai 2021

Date de fin 13 Mai 2023

Financé au titre de

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Coût total

€ 224 933,76

Contribution de l’UE

€ 224 933,76

Coordonné par

IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE
United Kingdom

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - UltracoldEDM (Measuring the electron's electric dipole moment using ultracold molecules)

Période du rapport: 2021-05-14 au 2023-05-13

Résumé du contexte et des objectifs généraux du projet

The observed imbalance between matter and anti-matter throughout the Universe could not be understood in the current framework of physics. This implies that there must be undiscovered physics that contains new particles and interactions. However, no new particles have been detected in the particle colliders. Another complementary way to test new physics is to measure the influence of the hypothetical particles on the properties of existing particles, for example, measuring the roundness of the electron. We aim at laser cooling and trapping heavy polar molecules and using the strong internal electric field of the molecules to precisely measure how round the electron is. This will shed light on the force that shaped the early Universe. In addition, the laser cooling techniques we develop will also advance the applications of ultracold molecules, including tests of fundamental physics, quantum simulation and quantum computation.

Travail effectué depuis le début du projet jusqu’à la fin de la période considérée dans le rapport et principaux résultats atteints jusqu’à présent

In the period of this project, we have constructed and tested most parts of the instrument that will be used for the measurement the roundness of the electron. We have proposed and numerically simulated a scheme for the measurement. We have understood a problem of the molecule structure that limits laser cooling of the molecules.

Progrès au-delà de l’état des connaissances et impact potentiel prévu (y compris l’impact socio-économique et les conséquences sociétales plus larges du projet jusqu’à présent)

Our work on molecule structure will enable deep laser cooling of heavy molecules that are important for testing of fundamental physics. Our experimental setup will be used to measure the roundness of the electron 10 or 100 times better than the state of the art, which will probe new physics to an energy scale much higher than any conceivable particle colliders.

The proposed experimental setup