Bulletin of the American Physical Society
55th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
Monday–Friday, June 3–7, 2024; Fort Worth, Texas
Session 2A: GPMFC Workshop: Precision Measurements with MoleculesIn-Person Invited Session
|
Hide Abstracts |
Chair: Tanya Zelevinsky, Columbia University Room: 202CD |
Monday, June 3, 2024 8:55AM - 9:00AM |
2A.00001: Welcome
|
Monday, June 3, 2024 9:00AM - 9:30AM |
2A.00002: Precision Rydberg spectroscopy in the H atom, the He atom and the H 2 molecule Invited Speaker: Frederic Merkt Precision measurements of the Rydberg spectra of H, He and H2 will be presented which aim at determining their ionization energies and, in the case of H2, also the spin-rovibrational energy-level structure of H2 +. These measurements are carried out for comparison with the results of first- principles calculations that include the treatment of finite-nuclear-size effects and relativistic and quantum-electrodynamics corrections up to high order in the fine-structure constant. The talk will describe our experimental strategy to overcome limitations in the precision and accuracy of the measurements originating from the Doppler effect, the Stark effect, and the laser-frequency calibration. Results will be presented on all three systems, including a new determination of the Rydberg constant and a new method to record Doppler-free single-photon excitation spectra of Rydberg states. |
Monday, June 3, 2024 9:30AM - 10:00AM |
2A.00003: Probing parity- and time-reversal violating physics with diatomic molecules Invited Speaker: David DeMille The small energy spacing between opposite-parity levels in molecules enhances their sensitivity to parity-violating (PV) effects. This talk will discuss experiments that leverage this enhancement for several distinct purposes. In the ZOMBIES experiment, we seek to measure the strength of hyperfine-like PV effects that are depend explicitly on the direction of a nuclear spin. These effects, associated for example with a nuclear anapole moment, arise within the Standard Model (SM) and conserve time-reversal symmetry (T). However, they probe details of the electroweak interaction that are intertwined with the strong interaction, which have evaded both experimental measurements and precise theoretical predictions. In the ACME experiment, we seek to detect an electric dipole moment (EDM) along the spin axis of the electron. This effect violates both P and T symmetries; It can arise at an observable level due only to physics beyond the SM, and its appearance is ubiquitous in theories with new physics above the TeV scale. Prior generations of ACME improved the world-best sensitivity to the electron EDM by a factor of 100, and a new generation, ACME III, is underway with the goal to make another order of magnitude improvement. Finally, we describe experimental efforst to detect a P- and T-violating nuclear Schiff moment (an effect closely related to an EDM). This type of measurement is sensitive to a different and broader range of new sources of underlying physics than the electron EDM. One such experiment, CeNTREX, uses methods similar to those of ACME and aims for improved sensitivty to the proton EDM in particular. Finally, a new effort will use ultracold, trapped molecules containing radioactive nuclei with an octupole deformation that enhances the Schiff moment caused by new physics, In particular, we aim to assemble ultracold 223FrAg (francium-silver) molecules and use them to achieve improved sensitivity to P- and T-violation in the hadronic sector by a factor of 1000 relative to existing limits. With this approach it is plausible to probe energy scales even much higher than those probed by current electron EDM searches. |
Monday, June 3, 2024 10:00AM - 10:30AM |
2A.00004: Relativistic study towards photoassociative formation of metastable lanthanide dimers Invited Speaker: Svetlana Kotochigova We theoretically explore the physics behind photoassociative formation of ultracold metastable lanthanide molecules. We are interested in lanthanide atoms and molecules that have a large magnetic moment and electronic orbital angular momentum leading to strong anisotropic interactions between one ground- and one metastable excited-state atom. Expanding the capabilities of our Relativistic Valence-Bond computational suite, we were able to determine that these versatile molecular systems possess key features that do not present in ultracold alkali-metal and alkaline-earth molecules. Here, we investigate how the unique magnetic properties such as the zero-field splitting of paramagnetic dysprosium (DyDy*) and erbium (ErEr*) molecules and strong electric dipole-dipole interaction between colliding atoms could contribute to the photoassociation process. |
Monday, June 3, 2024 10:30AM - 11:00AM |
2A.00005: Coffee Break
|
Monday, June 3, 2024 11:00AM - 11:30AM |
2A.00006: Trapped chiral molecular ions for precision sensing of parity violation - a new experiment Invited Speaker: Yuval Shagam The prediction that weak force parity violation (PV) breaks the symmetry between the left and right-handed chiral molecules has eluded detection for decades. Although, the field is dominated by neutral molecule experiments, the recent success of trapped molecular ions in eEDM searches presents a different avenue toward this goal. Despite the potential, the lack of theory on chiral molecular ions makes it challenging to select a species to initiate an experiment. Importantly, the ideal candidate, must be preparable at internally cold temperatures and have efficient detection methods, in addition to exhibiting a large PV shift. |
Monday, June 3, 2024 11:30AM - 12:00PM |
2A.00007: FUNDAMENTAL PHYSICS STUDIES WITH RADIOACTIVE MOLECULES Invited Speaker: Ronald Fernando Garcia Ruiz Molecules containing heavy and octupole-deformed radioactive nuclei are predicted to provide enhanced sensitivity to investigate distinct nuclear phenomena, test the violation of fundamental symmetries, and search for new physics beyond the Standard Model of particle physics [1-3]. However, experimental measurements of such radioactive systems are scarce, and their study requires overcoming major experimental challenges. This talk will discuss recent spectroscopy measurements of short-lived radium fluoride molecules (RaF) [4,5] and future perspectives for fundamental physics studies with these molecules. |
Monday, June 3, 2024 12:00PM - 12:30PM |
2A.00008: Testing the Standard Model with Molecules Invited Speaker: Anastasia Borschevsky Search for violation of fundamental symmetries provides a unique opportunity for testing the Standard Model. Atomic and molecular experiments offer a low energy and comparatively inexpensive alternative to high energy accelerator research in this field. As the observable effects (such as parity violation, PV) are expected to be very small, highly sensitive systems and extremely precise measurements are required for the success of such experiments. Atomic and molecular theory can provide crucial support for these experiments. |
Monday, June 3, 2024 12:30PM - 2:00PM |
2A.00009: Lunch
|
Monday, June 3, 2024 2:00PM - 2:30PM |
2A.00010: Searches for beyond the Standard Model physics using molecules – Grapes and Pears Invited Speaker: John M Doyle The search for the CP-violating (CP-v) moments of fundamental particles is a leading frontier for physics beyond the Standard Model (BSM), currently probing the ~10 TeV mass range for new particles. Molecules are the platform for much of this work because the anisotropy of the electron cloud along the inter-atomic axes within the molecule, combined with the heavy mass of the atomic constituents, yields an amplification of sensitivity to CP-v BSM physics. Longer coherence times directly improve measurement precision, which, in turn, increases the mass reach of BSM searches. To achieve this, trapping is necessary. Laser cooling is one way to attain the low temperatures needed to trap. Recent work with alkaline earth based, ionically bonded molecules has demonstrated several molecules that can be robustly cooled to microkelvin temperatures and optically trapped. This talk will present an overview of molecule laser cooling. Recent results on laser cooling of CaOH and SrOH, as well as possibilities for laser cooling new species, will be discussed. |
Monday, June 3, 2024 2:30PM - 3:00PM |
2A.00011: Scaling up quantum-logic spectroscopy: prospects for precision measurements with polyatomic molecules Invited Speaker: David Leibrandt A revolution is underway in quantum control of molecular ions based on quantum-logic spectroscopy (QLS). In these experiments, a single molecular ion of interest is co-trapped together with a single atomic “logic” ion, which is used for sympathetic laser cooling of translational motion and quantum-logic readout of internal molecular states. Because this readout technique is non-destructive, it can be used to prepare pure vibrational, rotational, and hyperfine states of the molecule in a probabilistic but heralded fashion. A wide spectrum of coherent molecular transitions can be driven as two-photon stimulated-Raman-transitions using a single CW laser or femtosecond laser optical frequency comb. These sources can be hundreds of terahertz away from resonance with any molecular transitions, and no resonant lasers are required for the molecule. Thus, a broad class of molecular ion species can be studied in a single experimental apparatus using only a few lasers, unlocking new opportunities in physical chemistry, astro-chemistry, quantum information, quantum sensing, and searches for physics beyond the Standard Model. Thus far, however, these techniques have only been demonstrated on diatomic molecules. |
Monday, June 3, 2024 3:00PM - 3:30PM |
2A.00012: A General Method for High Precision Single Molecule Spectroscopy Invited Speaker: David Patterson Single molecular ions present a highly attractive platform for ultra-high resolution and highly sensitive spectroscopy. These molecules can be held for many hours in a pristine environment, and via sympathetic cooling with a co-trappd atomic ion can be motionally laser cooled into the millikelvin regime and below. Prior to this work, methods to study "generic" single molecules at the single quantum state level have not been demonstrated. Here, we demonstrate a novel single molecule action-spectroscopy technique that is compatible with high precision measurement, and present the first spectra ever recorded of single polyatomic gas-phase molecules. The method is generally applicable to a wide range of polyatomic molecular ions, and promises spectral resolution comparable to state of the art quantum logic methods, with significantly less stringent experimental overhead. Progress towards extending this technique to include chiral recognition of single molecules will be discussed. Adaptations of this technique will prove useful in a wide range of precision spectroscopy arenas including the search for parity violating effects in chiral molecules and searches for biological signatures in samples from beyond Earth. |
Monday, June 3, 2024 3:30PM - 4:00PM |
2A.00013: Coffee Break
|
Monday, June 3, 2024 4:00PM - 4:30PM |
2A.00014: Quantum state control and precision spectroscopy of a single molecular ion Invited Speaker: Chin-wen Chou Precision molecular spectroscopy can lead to stringent tests of the Standard Model. The Ion Storage group at NIST is working on improving quantum state control and spectroscopic precision on single molecular ions. The project builds on advances in AMO physics over the past decades, including laser cooling and trapping techniques, frequency comb technology, and quantum-logic spectroscopy protocols, nowadays readily employed in cold-atom research and high-accuracy optical clocks. That enables demonstrations, on single molecular ions, of coherent quantum state manipulation [1], nondestructive state detection [1-3], rotational [4, 5] and vibrational [6] spectroscopy with better than part-per-trillion resolution, and quantum entanglement [7]. The group is exploring new opportunities in physics and chemistry offered by the rich structure and broad species selections in molecules that are compatible with quantum-logic spectroscopy protocols. |
Monday, June 3, 2024 4:30PM - 5:00PM |
2A.00015: Electron EDM measurements in molecules: What current limits mean, and how we are moving forward. Invited Speaker: Eric A Cornell In the wake of JILA's record-sensitivity limit set on the electron’s electric dipole moment that appeared last summer, we have been working on a new-generation apparatus to extend sensitivity still farther. I will put recent measurements of magnetic and electric dipole moments on an equal footing with respect to the search for physics beyond the standard model. Looking forward, I will discuss the various effects that stand in the way of realizing a 20-second coherence time in trapped-molecule spectroscopy, and I will explain how we hope to derive the largest possible metrological advantage from the coherence time we are able to achieve. |
Monday, June 3, 2024 5:00PM - 5:05PM |
2A.00016: Conclusion
|
Follow Us |
Engage
Become an APS Member |
My APS
Renew Membership |
Information for |
About APSThe American Physical Society (APS) is a non-profit membership organization working to advance the knowledge of physics. |
© 2025 American Physical Society
| All rights reserved | Terms of Use
| Contact Us
Headquarters
1 Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844
(301) 209-3200
Editorial Office
100 Motor Pkwy, Suite 110, Hauppauge, NY 11788
(631) 591-4000
Office of Public Affairs
529 14th St NW, Suite 1050, Washington, D.C. 20045-2001
(202) 662-8700