Search for the Electron Electric Dipole Moment using PbO Molecules

这个项目代表了长达十年的努力的最后阶段，以实验确定电子是否具有非球形的电荷分布。 这种电荷不对称性（称为电偶极矩）可能源于宇宙由物质而不是反物质组成的相同基本机制。 这个项目提供了为数不多的方法来测试粒子物理学理论，可以解释这个存在的基本事实。 其目标是实现对电子电偶极矩的灵敏度比以前的实验提高2-3倍，从而可能首次观察到这种效应。该项目的更广泛影响主要与参与者的研究培训有关。 在其生命周期中，这项实验已经支持了三名博士后研究人员，四名博士，学生，和十个本科研究人员，其中大多数人仍然活跃在研究。 这一阶段将支持最后一年的研究博士。学生在项目中。

This project represents the final phase of a decade-long effort to experimentally determine if electrons have a non-spherical distribution of their electric charge. Such a charge asymmetry (known as an electric dipole moment) can arise from the same fundamental mechanisms responsible for the universe being composed of matter rather than antimatter. This project provides one of the few means to test theories of particle physics that can explain this basic fact of existence. The goal is to achieve sensitivity to the electron's electric dipole moment a factor of 2-3 better than previous experiments, and hence possibly observe this effect for the first time.The broader impacts of this project are primarily related to research training of the participants. Over its lifetime, this experiment has supported training of three postdoctoral researchers, four Ph.D. students, and ten undergraduate researchers, most of whom have remained active in research. This phase will support the final year of research for the last Ph.D. student on the project.