Electric dipole moments (EDMs) are signatures of time-reversal, parity, and charge-parity (CP) violation, which makes them a sensitive probe of expected new physics beyond the Standard Model. No experiment has yet observed a non-zero EDM to challenge the Standard Model. Due to its large nuclear octupole deformation and high atomic mass, the radioactive 225Ra isotope is a favorable EDM case; it is particularly sensitive to T-violating interactions in the nuclear medium. We have developed a cold-atom approach of studying the spin precession of the 225Ra atoms held in an optical dipole trap, and demonstrated the method by completing a preliminary measurement of its atomic EDM. This initial result will be discussed, along with short and long term upgrades that are expected to improve significantly on it.
Argonne Physics Division Seminar Schedule