Upgrades for an Improved Measurement of the Permanent EDM of Radium

A non-zero Electric Dipole Moment (EDM) in a non-degenerate system violates time-reversal (T) symmetry and consequently also charge-parity (\textit{CP}) symmetry.  EDM measurements are therefore sensitive searches for new CP violating interactions. The octupole deformation and nearly degenerate nuclear parity doublet in radium (Ra) make it an attractive candidate for probing \textit{CP} violations in the hadronic sector. Experimental upgrades are being implemented to enhance the current EDM sensitivity for Ra-225. These include more than a factor of three enhancement in the electric field from our electrode upgrade, a STIRAP-based electron shelving for improved state detection efficiency, and an improved atom slowing scheme. With these upgrades, the increased EDM sensitivity will substantially improve constraints on certain \textit{CP} violating processes within the nucleus. This work is supported by the U.S. DOE, Office of Science, Office of Nuclear Physics, under contract DE-AC02-06CH11357 and the Michigan State University.