This thesis describes the physics, design, and construction of an experiment to measure the electric dipole moment (EDM) of the electron. In the experiment, laser-cooled Cs atoms will be held in an optical dipole force trap in the presence of applied electric and magnetic fields. The signature of an electron EDM is a first-order electric field shift of the Zeeman resonance frequency of the Cs ground state. We present an analysis of the systematic and statistical errors of this experiment, which shows that the experiment should have a sensitivity of the order of 10⁻²⁹ e-cm. We pay particular attention to potential light-shift induced errors and to magnetic field noise. We also present the design and experimental results for a cold Cs atom source, high voltage field plates, optical trapping field in a resonant build-up cavity, noval titanim ultrahigh vacuum system, and magnetic sheilding system. These results show that a measurement of the electron edm at the level of 10⁻²⁹ e-cm. should be feasible. / text

The ACME collaboration has completed a measurement setting a new upper limit on the size of the electron's permanent electric dipole moment (EDM). The existence of the EDM is well motivated by theories extending the standard model of particle physics, with predicted sizes very close to the current experimental limit. The new limit was set by measuring spin precession within the metastable H state of the polar molecule thorium monoxide (ThO). A particular focus here is on the automated data acquisition system developed to search for a precession phase odd under internal and external reversal of the electric field. Automated switching of many different experimental controls allowed a rapid diagnosis of major systematics, including the dominant systematic caused by non-reversing electric fields and laser polarization gradients. Polarimetry measurements made it possible to quantify and minimize the polarization gradients in our state preparation and probe lasers. Three separate measurements were used to determine the electric field that did not reverse when we tried to switch the field direction. The new bound of |de|< 8.7 &times; 10^-29 e cm is over an order of magnitude smaller than previous limits, and strongly limits T-violating physics at TeV energy scales. / Physics

We give a brief introduction to atomic physics and the motivation behind our experiments in the first chapter. The electron’s electric dipole moment is an interesting quantity which is yet to be measured. In the 3rd Chapter, we use the technique of chopped non-linear magneto-optic rotation (NMOR) in a room temperature Cs vapor cell to measure the permanent electric dipole moment (EDM) in the atom. The cell has paraffin coating on the walls to increase the relaxation time. The signature of the EDM is a shift in the Larmor precession frequency correlated with the application of an E field. We analyze errors in the technique, and show that the main source of systematic error is the appearance of a longitudinal magnetic field when an electric field is applied. This error can be eliminated by doing measurements on the two ground hyperfine levels. Using an E field of 2.6 kV/cm, we place an upper limit on the electron EDM of 2.9 × 10−22 e-cm with 95% confidence. This limit can be increased by 7 orders-of-magnitude—and brought below the current best experimental value. We give future directions for how this may be achieved. In chapter 4, we examine the Hanle effect for linear and circularly polarized light for different ground states and we find opposite behavior in the transmission signal. In one case, it shifts from enhanced transmission to enhanced absorption and vice-versa in the other case. In Chapter 5, we study the transmission spectrum at different temperatures and device a way to find the number density. We then verify the Clausius-Clapeyron equation and also find the latent heat of vaporization of Cs. Finally, we wrap up with conclusions and future directions.

A new neutron Electric Dipole Moment (nEDM) experiment was proposed to be commissioned at the Fundamental Neutron Physics Beamline at the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The underlying theme of this experiment (first conceived by Golub and Lamoreaux in 1994) is the search for new physics beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. The discovery of a non-zero nEDM would be of revolutionary importance to physics, with the discovery of such providing for evidence for new-beyond-the-Standard-Model physics required for a resolution to the unresolved puzzle of why the universe is dominated by matter, as opposed to anti-matter. A first demonstration of a new magnetic field monitoring system for a neutron electric dipole moment experiment is presented. The system is designed to reconstruct the vector components of the magnetic field in the interior measurement region solely from exterior measurements. The results highlight the potential for the implementation of an improved system in an upcoming neutron electric dipole moment experiment to be carried out at the Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Rotationally averaged polarizabilities and intrinsic electric dipole moments of sodium clusters are measured and reported. The experimental method is a molecular beam deflection. Our precision is the highest (<5%) and the range of the cluster sizes is the broadest to date (Na₁₀ ∼ Na₃₀₀). Compared to the earlier measurements, our data covers all sizes with no gaps up to the largest cluster. The fine structure in the polarizability curve is previously unobserved. We have carefully ruled out several possible explanations. And we find an earlier existing theory could explain the facts but will lead to magic numbers which were not seen in some previous experiments. A detailed theory is needed to understand the behaviors we see. Intrinsic electric dipole moments (EDM) of sodium clusters are probed to answer the intriguing question: Do metal clusters develop electric dipole moments like molecules? Some theories have predicted the existence of EDM in ground state sodium clusters and gave their magnitudes. We put upper bounds on the EDM of sodium clusters and find that they are orders of magnitude smaller than the predictions. This provokes an interesting question: how can one define metallicity in metal clusters? Our measurements are performed at cryogenic temperature 20 Kelvin. At this temperature the clusters are believed to be in their vibronic ground states.

This thesis is devoted to optical properties of Aharonov-Bohm quantum rings in external electromagnetic fields. It contains two problems. The first problem deals with a single-electron Aharonov-Bohm quantum ring pierced by a magnetic flux and subjected to an in-plane (lateral) electric field. We predict magneto-oscillations of the ring electric dipole moment. These oscillations are accompanied by periodic changes in the selection rules for inter-level optical transitions in the ring allowing control of polarization properties of the associated terahertz radiation. The second problem treats a single-mode microcavity with an embedded Aharonov-Bohm quantum ring, which is pierced by a magnetic flux and subjected to a lateral electric field. We show that external electric and magnetic fields provide additional means of control of the emission spectrum of the system. In particular, when the magnetic flux through the quantum ring is equal to a half-integer number of the magnetic flux quantum, a small change in the lateral electric field allows tuning of the energy levels of the quantum ring into resonance with the microcavity mode, providing an efficient way to control the quantum ring-microcavity coupling strength. Emission spectra of the system are calculated for several combinations of the applied magnetic and electric fields.

Un moment dipolaire électrique permanent (EDM) est une propriété fondamentale des systèmes simples comme par exemple l'électron, les atomes/molécules ou le neutron dont l'existence est prédite par le Modèle Standard de la physique des particules (MS) mais qui n'a pas pour l'heure jamais été observée. Cette observable violant la symétrie CP offre la possibilité de relier la physique des particules à l'énigme cosmologique fondamentale de l'asymétrie baryonique de l'Univers observée de nos jours. Produire une telle asymétrie requiert de nouvelles sources/de nouveaux mécanismes de violation de CP, hors MS, qui peuvent être sondés de façon privilégiée par les recherches d'EDM. La sensibilité des expériences EDM actuelles se trouve des ordres de grandeurs au-dessus des prédictions du secteur faible du MS. L'absence de signal, après 60 ans de quête, détermine la limite supérieure la plus forte sur la violation de CP dans le secteur fort du MS et contraint l'espace des phases des modèles de nouvelle physique. A contrario, la mesure d'un EDM non nul dans les années à venir pourra s'interpréter comme le signal d'une physique au-delà du MS évoluant à l'échelle multi-TeV. Dans cette perspective envoûtante, de nombreux nouveaux projets de mesures des EDM ont vu le jour ces dernières années et d'importants efforts sont poursuivis auprès du neutron notamment. Ce manuscrit présente la recherche de l'EDM du neutron menée auprès de l'expérience la plus sensible à ce jour basée à l'Institut Paul Scherrer en Suisse. / A permanent electric dipole moment (EDM) is a fundamental property of simple systems such as the electron, atoms/molecules or the neutron whose amplitude is expected to be non-zero within the Standard Model of particles physics (SM) but which has never been observed so far. This observable violating the CP symmetry offers the opportunity to link particle physics to the fundamental cosmological enigma of the observed baryon asymmetry of the Universe. Such an asymmetry requires new CP violation sources/mechanism beyond the SM, which can be best probed by EDM searches. The current EDM experiments sensitivity is order of magnitude above the weak SM sector predictions. Measuring a null EDM, after a 60 years quest, set the strongest upper limit on the CP violation in the strong SM sector and constrains the new physics models phase space. On the contrary, measuring a non-zero EDM in the coming years can be understood as a signal from physics beyond the SM evolving at a multi-TeV scale. In this haunting perspective, many new EDM projects raised in the last years and important efforts are pursued near the neutron in particular. This manuscript present the neutron EDM search near the most sensitive experiment running at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland.

No description available.

The observed imbalance of matter and anti-matter in the universe is one of physics' most fundamental unresolved questions. The leading theories to explain this imbalance require CP violation, and the neutron electric dipole moment (nEDM) is a sensitive parameter in its determination. Many new theories of physics beyond the standard model can be constrained or ruled-out by setting limits on the nEDM. Many next generation nEDM experiments require Ultra Cold Neutrons (UCN), produced in superfluid helium. One such experiment is cryoEDM. This thesis explores various types of UCN detection technologies applicable to cryoEDM or any high-density high-efficiency cryogenic nEDM experiment. Cryogenic Phonon Scintillation detectors (CPSD) are modified for this application by operating at 500 mK, and by using a titanium transition edge sensor for phonon signal readout. A CPSD is stabilised in the transition using a novel infra-red light feedback system which reduced the response time to O</m>(100 &mu;s). The detector is characterised and calibrated using an ²⁴¹Am &alpha; source. It was found to operate reliably at this elevated temperature and measure an alpha spectrum with 11% resolution at 5.5 MeV. Scintillators are identified as a promising technology for UCN detection at low temperature. Suitable materials that are bright with fast decay times and low &gamma; sensitivity are studied in the temperature range 300 - 6 K. Their light yield to alpha excitation, their decay time characteristics and spectroscopic properties under VUV excitation are investigated. This study includes the first comprehensive investigation of the luminescence properties of plastic scintillators and of ⁶LiF/ZnS(Ag) down to 6 K. It is found that there is no degradation of the luminescence or kinetic properties of these materials across the whole temperature range, revealing them as suitable cryogenic detector materials. Using a plastic scintillator, a prototype UCN detector for operation in liquid helium is designed, manufactured and tested. It is read out using WLS optical fibres to a room temperature photomultiplier. The detector is successfully tested with cold neutrons at the ISIS neutron science facility and found to effectively measure neutrons, with a signal that is clear from background. Recommendations are made for its integration into a cryogenic neutron EDM experiment. This low-cost detector offers a promising method for the passive detection of UCN in a challenging cryogenic environment, with minimal electric interference and low background sensitivity. This technology offers the potential for improved UCN detection efficiency and thus improved sensitivity of the measurement of the neutron EDM.

Une étude théorique ab initio des structures électroniques des molécules Diatomiques polaires BN, SiN et LaH dans la représentation 2s+1Λ(+/-)Ont été effectués par la méthode du champ auto-cohérent de l'espace Actif complet (CASSCF), suivie par l'interaction de la configuration multiréférence (MRSDCI). La correction de Davidson, notée (MRSDCI+ Q), a ensuite été appliquée pour rendre compte de clusters ou agrégats quadruples non liés. L'ensemble de l'espace de configuration de CASSCF a été utilisé comme référence dans le calcul MRCI, qui a été effectués en utilisant le programme de calcul de chimie physique MOLPRO et en tirant parti de l'interface graphique Gabedit. Quarante-deux de plus bas états électroniques dans la représentation 2s+1Λ(+/-)au-dessous de 95000 cm-1 ont été étudiés de la molécule BN. Alors que vingt-huit états électroniques dans les représentations 2s+1Λ(+/-) jusqu'à 70000 cm-1 de la molécule de SiN ont été étudiés. D'autre part, les vingt-quatre bas états électroniques de LaH dans les représentations 2s+1Λ(+/-) au-dessous de 70000 cm-1 ont été étudiées par deux méthodes différentes et en prenant en considération l'effet des spin-orbite de la molécule LaH et nous avons observé la division énergétique des huit états électroniques. Les courbes d'énergie potentielle ont été construites avec la fréquence co-harmonique ωe, la distance internucléaire de l'équilibre re, les constantes de rotation Be. L'énergie électronique par rapport à l'état fondamentale Te a été calculé pour les états électroniques considérés comme des BN, SiN et la molécule LaH respectivement. En utilisant l'approche des fonctions canoniques, les valeurs propres Ev, les constantes rotationnelles Bv, la constante de distorsion centrifuge Dv et les abscisses des points de retournement Rmin and Rmax ont été calculés pour les états électroniques au niveau de vibration v=51 pour LaH molécule. Dix-huit et neuf états électroniques ont été étudiées pour la molécule BN et SiN respectivement. Pour LaH, vingt-trois états électroniques de la molécule LaH et l'effet de spin-orbite de molécule LaH sont donnés ici pour la première fois. La comparaison avec les données expérimentales et théoriques pour la plupart des constantes calculées démontre une très bonne précision. Enfin, ces résultats devraient ainsi mener à des études expérimentales plus poussées pour ces molécules. Nos résultats ont été publiés dans le Canadian Journal of Chemistry, Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer, nous avons deux autres articles en préparation à soumettre. / In the present work a theoretical investigation of the lowest molecular states of BN, SiN and LaH molecule, in the representation 2s+1Λ(+/-), has been performed via complete active space self-consistent field method (CASSCF) followed by multireference single and double configuration interaction method (MRSDCI). The Davidson correction noted as (MRSDCI+Q) was then invoked in order to account for unlinked quadruple clusters. The entire CASSCF configuration space was used as a reference in the MRCI calculation which has been performed via the computational chemistry program MOLPRO and by taking advantage of the graphical user interface Gabedit. Forty-two singlet, triplet, and quintet lowest electronic states in the 2s+1Λ(+/-) representation below 95000 cm-1 have been investigated of the molecule BN. While twenty-eight electronic states in the representation2s+1Λ(+/-)up to 70000 cm-1 of the SiN molecule have been investigated.On the other hand the Twenty four low-lying electronic states of LaH in the representation 2s+1Λ(+/-) below 35000 cm-1 have been studied by two different methods and by taking into consideration the spin orbit effect of the molecule LaH we give in the energy splitting of the eight electronic states. The potential energy curves (PECs) together with the harmonic frequency ωe, the equilibrium internuclear distance re, the rotational constants Be and the electronic energy with respect to the ground state Te have been calculated for the considered electronic states of BN, SiN and LaH molecule respectively. Using the canonical functions approach, the eigenvalues Ev, the rotational constants Bv ,the centrifugal distortion constants Dv and the abscissas of the turning points Rmin and Rmax have been calculated for electronic states up to the vibrational level v =51 for LaH molecule.Eighteen and Nine electronic states have been investigated here for the first time for the molecules of BN and SiN respectively, while for LaH, news results are performed for twenty three electronic states of LaH molecule and the spin-orbit effect of LaH molecule is given here for the first time. A comparison with experimental and theoretical data for most of the calculated constants demonstrated a very good accuracy. Finally, we expect that the results of our work should invoke further experimental investigations for these molecules. Our results have been published in Canadian journal of chemistry, Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer and we have two other papers in preparation to submit.