Radioactive Molecules as Quantum Sensors for Fundamental Physics
Dr. Arian Jadbabaie
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Foundational mysteries, such as the matter-antimatter asymmetry and strong CP problem, motivate searches for new particles and forces that violate fundamental symmetries of parity (P) and time-reversal (T) symmetry. In the RaX collaboration, we are building experiments to harness radioactive molecules, such as RaF and RaOH, as laser coolable quantum sensors with uniquely enhanced sensitivities to P,T violation (PTV). This sensitivity is achieved by embedding an octupole-deformed nucleus in a polar molecule with large internal fields, amplifying the signatures of nuclear PTV by >10^6 compared to measurements in atoms containing spherical nuclei (e.g. 199Hg). Combined with the toolbox of laser cooling and quantum metrology, radioactive molecules can probe new hadronic PTV physics potentially as far as PeV energy scales, complementary to the reach of planned colliders. In this talk, I will discuss our progress towards producing cold beams of 226-RaX and demonstrating efficient laser cooling, as well as briefly highlighting future prospects for 225-RaX production. Furthermore, I will discuss new schemes for quantum metrology that can harness quantum advantages for fundamental physics research, both to reduce sensitivity to external noise and to amplify signals from new physics.
Hosted by Profs Brodeur & Stroberg