Search for a Permanent Electric Dipole Moment of the Mercury Atom

Journal Article · Thu Dec 17 04:00:00 EST 2009 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3293887· OSTI ID:21325709

Fortson, E N ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 (United States)

There has been exciting progress in recent years in the search for a permanent electric dipole moment (EDM) of an atom, a molecule, or the neutron. An EDM along the axis of spin can exist only if time reversal symmetry (T) is violated. Although such a dipole has not yet been detected, mainstream theories of possible new physics, such as Supersymmetry, predict the existence of EDMs within reach of modern experiments. Here I discuss the results of our new experimental search for a permanent electric dipole moment of {sup 199}Hg utilizing a stack of four vapor cells. We find d({sup 199}Hg) (0.49{+-}1.29{sub stat}{+-}0.76{sub syst})x10{sup -29} e cm, and interpret this as a new upper bound, d({sup 199}Hg)<3.1x10{sup -29} e cm(95% C.L.). This result improves our previous {sup 199}Hg limit by a factor of 7, and can be used to set new constraints on CP violation in physics beyond the Standard Model.

• OSTI ID: 21325709
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 1182; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
ATOMS
CP INVARIANCE
DIPOLES
ELECTRIC DIPOLE MOMENTS
MERCURY 199
MOLECULES
NEUTRONS
SPIN
STANDARD MODEL
SUPERSYMMETRY
VAPORS