On Measuring the Electron Electric Dipole Moment in Trapped Molecular Ions

Abstract

Trapped diatomic molecular ions could prove to be a sensitive probe for a permanent electron electric dipole moment (eEDM). We propose to use a ground or metastable $^3\Delta_1$ level, due to its high polarizability and large EDM enhancement factor. Ions allow for simple trapping and long interrogation times, but require a time-varying electric bias field in order to probe the eEDM. We discuss experimental design as well as challenges in performing a precision spectroscopic measurement in rapidly time-varying electric fields.