Arian Jadbabaie

Measuring Fundamental Symmetry Violation in Polyatomic Molecules

Abstract:
Open questions in fundamental physics, such as the origins of the baryon asymmetry of the universe, motivate the search for symmetry-violating physics beyond the Standard Model (BSM). Recent measurements of electric dipole moments (EDMs) in polar, diatomic molecules have constrained the existence of new Parity (P) and Time-reversal (T) violating physics at ~10 TeV energy scales, exceeding the direct reach of particle colliders. To reach the next generation of sensitivity, we have developed the foundations for EDM searches using cold and ultracold linear triatomic molecules. By adopting polyatomic molecules as an experimental platform, we can generically combine laser-cooling, trapping, BSM sensitivity, and exquisite quantum control over symmetry-violating energy shifts. These improvements are projected to increase the sensitivity of EDM measurements to the PeV energy scale. We present results on production, spectroscopy, and Ramsey interferometry in cold YbOH molecules. Additionally, as part of the PolyEDM collaboration, we illustrate the power of polyatomic molecules, by combining laser cooling and optical trapping with quantum state engineering to perform proof-of-principle measurements of P,T violating physics in magnetically-insensitive states of ultracold CaOH molecules at Harvard University. Our results open the door to a wide range of quantum-enhanced symmetry violation searches benefiting from the unique structural features of polyatomic molecules.