Electric Dipole Moment Experiment Research Articles

Small instanton-induced flavor invariants and the axion potential

Small instantons which increase the axion mass due to an appropriate modification of QCD at a UV scale ΛSI, can also enhance the effect of CP-violating operators to shift the axion potential minimum by an amount, θind, proportional to the flavorful couplings in the SMEFT. Since physical observables must be flavor basis independent, we construct a basis of determinant-like flavor invariants that arise from instanton calculations containing the effects of dimension-six CP-odd operators at the scale . This new basis provides a more reliable estimate of the shift θind, that is severely constrained by neutron electric dipole moment experiments. In particular, for the case of four-quark, semi-leptonic and gluon dipole operators, these invariants are then used to provide improved limits on the ratio of scales for different flavor scenarios. The CP-odd flavor invariants also provide a classification of the leading effects from Wilson coefficients, and as an example, we show that a semi-leptonic four-fermion operator is subdominant compared to the four-quark operators. More generally, the flavor invariants, together with an instanton NDA, can be used to more accurately estimate small instanton effects in the axion potential that arise from any SMEFT operator.

Studies of the spin coherence time of protons at COSY

The search for the Electric Dipole Moments (EDM) of charged particles in storage rings necessitates polarized beams with long Spin Coherence Time (SCT) of the circulating beam. The SCT is the time during which the RMS spread of the orientation of spins of all particles in the bunch reaches one radian. A long SCT is needed to observe the coherent effect of a polarization build-up induced by the EDM. For deuterons the SCT of 1000 s has been achieved at the COoler SYnchrotron COSY (Jülich, Germany). Accomplishing such long SCT for protons is far more challenging due to their higher anomalous magnetic moment, but essential for the planned EDM experiments. It has been shown that for protons the SCT is strongly influenced by nearby intrinsic and integer spin resonances. The strengths of the latter have been calculated for a typical optics setting of COSY and the overall influence on the SCT was predicted. In addition, the efficiency of proton spin flipping with an RF solenoid from initially vertical direction into the ring plane is also investigated.

CP-violating axion interactions II: axions as dark matter

Axions provide a solution to the strong CP problem and are excellent dark matter candidates. The presence of additional sources of CP violation, for example to account for the matter/antimatter asymmetry of the universe, can lead to CP-violating interactions between axions and Standard Model fields. In case axions form a coherent dark matter background, this leads to time-oscillating fundamental constants such as the fine-structure constant and particle masses. In this work we compare the sensitivity of various searches for CP-odd axion interactions. These include fifth-force experiments, searches for time-oscillating constants induced by axion dark matter, and direct limits from electric dipole moment experiments. We show that searches for oscillating constants can outperform fifth-force experiments in the regime of small axion masses, but, in general, do not reach the sensitivity of electric dipole moment experiments.

Precision Storage Rings for Electric Dipole Moment Searches: A Tool En Route to Physics Beyond-the-Standard-Model

Electric Dipole Moments (EDM) of particles (leptons, nucleons, and light nuclei) are currently deemed one of the best indicators for new physics, i.e., phenomena which lie outside the Standard Model (SM) of elementary particle physics—so-called physics “Beyond-the-Standard-Model” (BSM). Since EDMs of the SM are vanishingly small, a finite permanent EDM would indicate charge-parity (CP) symmetry violation in addition to the well-known sources of the SM, and could explain the baryon asymmetry of the Universe, while an oscillating EDM would hint at a possible Dark Matter (DM) field comprising axions or axion-like particles (ALPs). A new approach exploiting polarized charged particles (proton, deuteron, 3He) in precision storage rings offers the prospect to push current experimental EDM upper limits significantly further, including the possibility of an EDM discovery. In this paper, we describe the scientific background and the steps towards the realization of a precision storage ring, which will make such measurements possible.

Characterization of the new Ultracold Neutron beamline at the LANL UCN facility

The neutron electric dipole moment (nEDM) experiment that is currently being developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) will use ultracold neutrons (UCN) and Ramsey’s method of separated oscillatory fields to search for a nEDM. In this paper, we present measurements of UCN storage and UCN transport performed during the commissioning of a new beamline at the LANL UCN source and demonstrate a sufficient number of stored polarized UCN to achieve a statistical uncertainty of δdn=2×10−27 e cm in 5 calendar years of running. We also present an analytical model describing data that provides a simple parameterization of the input UCN energy spectrum on the new beamline.

RETRACTED: Investigation of spin-decoherence in the NICA storage ring for the future EDM-measurement experiment

A new experiment to measure electric dipole moments (EDMs) of elementary particles, based on the Frequency Domain method, has been proposed for implementation at the NICA facility (JINR, Russia). EDM experiments in general, being measurement-of-polarization experiments, require long spin-coherence times at around 1,000 seconds. The FD method involves a further complication (well paid off in orders of precision) of switching the polarity of the guiding field as part of its CW-CCW injection procedure. This latter procedure necessitates a calibration process, during which the beam polarization axis changes its orientation from the radial (used for the measurement) to the vertical (used for the calibration) direction. If this change occurs adiabatically, the beam particles’ spin-vectors follow the direction of the polarization axis — which undermines the calibration technique; however, concerns were raised as to whether violation of adiabaticity could damage spin-coherence. These concerns are addressed in the present investigation.

Mapping of the magnetic field to correct systematic effects in a neutron electric dipole moment experiment

Experiments dedicated to the measurement of the electric dipole moment of the neutron require outstanding control of the magnetic field uniformity. The neutron electric dipole moment (nEDM) experiment at the Paul Scherrer Institute uses a 199Hg co-magnetometer to precisely monitor magnetic field variations. This co-magnetometer, in the presence of field non-uniformity, is responsible for the largest systematic effect of this measurement. To evaluate and correct that effect, offline measurements of the field non-uniformity were performed during mapping campaigns in 2013, 2014 and 2017. We present the results of these campaigns, and the improvement the correction of this effect brings to the neutron electric dipole moment measurement.

New benchmark scenarios of electroweak baryogenesis in aligned two Higgs double models

We discuss electroweak baryogenesis in aligned two Higgs doublet models. It is known that in this model the severe constraint from the experimental results for the electron electric dipole moment can be avoided by destructive interference among CP-violating effects in the Higgs sector. In our previous work, we showed that the observed baryon number in the Universe can be explained without contradicting current available data in a specific scenario in the same model. We here first discuss details of the evaluation of baryon number based on the WKB method taking into account all order of the wall velocity. We then investigate parameter spaces which are allowed under the current available data from collider, flavor and electric dipole moment experiments simultaneously. We find several benchmark scenarios which can explain baryon asymmetry of the Universe. We also discuss how we can test these benchmark scenarios at future collider experiments, various flavor experiments and gravitational wave observations.

Enhanced EDMs from small instantons

We show that models in which the strong $CP$ problem is solved by introducing an axion field with a mass enhanced by non-QCD UV dynamics at a scale ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}}_{\mathrm{SI}}$ exhibit enhanced sensitivity to external sources of $CP$ violation. In the presence of higher-dimensional $CP$-odd sources at a scale ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}}_{\mathrm{CP}}$, the same mechanisms that enhance the axion mass also modify the axion potential, shifting the potential minimum by a factor $\ensuremath{\propto}{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}}_{\mathrm{SI}}^{2}/{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}}_{\mathrm{CP}}^{2}$. This phenomenon of $CP$-violation enhancement, which puts stringent constraints on the scale of new physics, is explicitly demonstrated within a broad class of ``small instanton'' models with $CP$-odd sources arising from the dimension-six Weinberg gluonic and four-fermion operators. We find that for heavy axion masses $\ensuremath{\gtrsim}100\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{MeV}$, arising from new dynamics at ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}}_{\mathrm{SI}}\ensuremath{\lesssim}{10}^{10}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$, $CP$ violation generated up to the Planck scale can be probed by future electric dipole moment experiments.

CP-violating axion interactions in effective field theory

Axions are introduced to explain the observed smallness of the overline{theta} term of QCD. Standard Model extensions typically contain new sources of CP violation, for instance to account for the baryon asymmetry of the universe. In the presence of additional CP-violating sources a Peccei-Quinn mechanism does not remove all CP violation, leading to CP-odd interactions among axions and Standard Model fields. In this work, we use effective field theory to parametrize generic sources of beyond-the-Standard-Model CP violation. We systematically compute the resulting CP-odd couplings of axions to leptons and hadrons by using chiral perturbation theory. We discuss in detail the phenomenology of the CP-odd axion couplings and compare limits from axion searches, such as fifth force and monopole-dipole searches and astrophysics, to direct limits on the CP-violating operators from electric dipole moment experiments. While limits from electric dipole moment searches are tight, the proposed ARIADNE experiment can potentially improve the existing constraints in a window of axion masses.

Improved indirect limits on charm and bottom quark EDMs

We derive indirect limits on the charm and bottom quark electric dipole moments (EDMs) from paramagnetic AMO and neutron EDM experiments. The charm and bottom quark EDMs generate CP-odd photon-gluon operators and light quark EDMs at the c- and b-quark mass thresholds. These CP-odd operators induce the CP-odd semi-leptonic operator CS and the neutron EDM below the QCD scale that are probed by the paramagnetic and neutron EDM experiments, respectively. The bound from CS is |dc| < 1.3 × 10−20e cm for the charm quark and |db| < 7.6 × 10−19e cm for the bottom quark, with its uncertainty estimated as 10 %. The neutron EDM provides a stronger bound, |dc| < 6 × 10−22e cm and |db| < 2 × 10−20e cm, though with a larger hadronic uncertainty.

Quantum control of two critically dressed spin-1/2 species in magnetic fluctuations

The neutron electric dipole moment experiment at the Spallation Neutron Source (nEDM@SNS experiment) proposes to measure the nEDM using the spin-dependent capture cross section of neutrons on $^{3}\mathrm{He}$. The critical dressing mode of this experiment uses an oscillating magnetic field to dress the gyromagnetic ratios of neutrons and $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ to the same value. While this technique grants increased sensitivity to the nEDM by improving the signal-to-noise ratio, this mode of measurement also introduces additional noise from the power supply used to drive the dressing field. This can lead to randomly fluctuating magnetic fields which cause the spins of neutrons and $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ to drift apart over time. Here we use second-order time-dependent perturbation theory to compute relaxation and frequency shifts due to fluctuations in the dressing field in terms of the magnetic field noise power spectrum and compare these calculations to numerical solutions obtained by integrating the Bloch equations. We then use these results to develop mitigation strategies for this type of noise. Furthermore, we report on spin dressing modulation techniques that significantly amplify coherence times for the critically dressed system, and attempt to quantify the achievable coherence time.

Theory of Dirac dark matter: Higgs boson decays and EDMs

We discuss a simple theory predicting the existence of a Dirac dark matter candidate from gauge anomaly cancellation. In this theory, the spontaneous breaking of the local baryon number at the low scale can be understood. We show that the constraint from the dark matter relic abundance implies an upper bound on the theory of a few tens of TeV. We study the correlation between the dark matter constraints and the prediction for the electric dipole moment of the electron. We point out the implications for the diphoton decay width of the Standard Model Higgs boson. Furthermore, we study the decays of the new Higgs boson presented in the theory, and we show that the branching ratio into two photons can be large. We also discuss the correlation between the dark matter constraints and the properties of the new Higgs boson decays. This theory could be tested at current or future experiments by combining the results from dark matter, collider, and electric dipole moment experiments.

Static electric dipole moment of the francium atom induced by axionlike particle exchange

The francium atom is considered as a prospective candidate system to search for the T,P-violating electron electric dipole moment [T. Aoki et al Quantum Sci. Technol. 6, 044008 (2021)]. We demonstrate that the same experiment can be used for axionlike particles (ALP) search. For this, we calculate electronic structure constants of ALP-mediated interaction for a wide range of ALP masses. Using the recently updated constraints on the ALP-electron and ALP-nucleon coupling constants, we show that the contribution of considered interactions corresponding to these constraints can give significant contribution to atomic electric dipole moment. Therefore, obtainment of stronger restrictions for ALP characteristics in the francium atom electric dipole moment experiment is possible.

Predicting outcomes of electric dipole and magnetic moment experiments

The anomalous magnetic and electric dipole moments in spin motion equation acquire pseudoscalar corrections if the T(CP)-noninvariance is admitted. It allows to explain the discrepancy between experimental and theoretical values of muon g–2 factor under assumption that the pseudoscalar correction is the dominant source of this discrepancy.

Race to find split Higgsino dark matter

Split higgsinos are a compelling class of models to explain dark matter and may be on the verge of detection by multiple current experimental avenues. The idea is based on a large split in scales between the electroweak scale and decoupled scalars, with relatively light higgsinos between the two. Such models enjoy the merit of depending on very few parameters while still explaining gauge coupling unification, dark matter, and most of the hierarchy between the Planck and electroweak scales, and they remain undetected by past experiments. We analyze split higgsinos in view of current and next generation experiments. We discuss the direct and indirect detection prospects and further demonstrate promising discovery potentials in the upcoming electron electric dipole moment experiments. The parameter space of this model is analyzed in terms of experiments expected to run in the coming years and where we should be looking for the next potential discoveries.

Comprehensive symmetric-hybrid ring design for a proton EDM experiment at below 10−29e·cm

A concise demonstrative summary of the Symmetric Hybrid ring design for the storage ring proton electric dipole moment experiment is presented. Critical issues such as lattice design, background electrical fields,geometrical phase, general relativity, spin coherence time and polarimeter systematics are presented. Overall, we find that with the currently proposed design iteration, systematic error sources are reduced by orders of magnitude and that the ring alignment requirements are within the currently available technology.

Electroweak bubble wall expansion: gravitational waves and baryogenesis in Standard Model-like thermal plasma

Computing the properties of the bubble wall of a cosmological first order phase transition at electroweak scale is of paramount importance for the correct prediction of the baryon asymmetry of the universe and the spectrum of gravitational waves. By means of the semiclassical formalism we calculate the velocity and thickness of the wall using as theoretical framework the scalar singlet extension of the SM with a parity symmetry and the SM effective field theory supplemented by a dimension six operator. We use these solutions to carefully predict the baryon asymmetry and the gravitational wave signals. The singlet scenario can easily accommodate the observed asymmetry but these solutions do not lead to observable effects at future gravity wave experiments. In contrast the effective field theory fails at explaining the baryon abundance due to the strict constraints from electric dipole moment experiments, however, the strongest solutions we found fall within the sensitivity of the LISA experiment. We provide a simple analytical approximation for the wall velocity which only requires calculation of the strength and temperature of the transition and works reasonably well in all models tested. We find that generically the weak transitions where the fluid approximation can be used to calculate the wall velocity and verify baryogenesis produce signals too weak to be observed in future gravitational wave experiments. Thus, we infer that GW signals produced by simple SM extensions visible in future experiments are likely to only result from strong transitions described by detonations with highly relativistic wall velocities.

Ultracold neutron storage simulation using the Kassiopeia software package

The Kassiopeia software package was originally developed to simulate electromagnetic fields and charged particle trajectories for neutrino mass measurement experiments. Recent additions to Kassiopeia also allow it to simulate neutral particle trajectories in magnetic fields based on their magnetic moments. Two different methods were implemented: an exact method that can work for arbitrary fields and an adiabatic method that is limited to slowly-varying fields but is much faster for large precession frequencies. Additional interactions to simulate reflection of ultracold neutrons (UCNs) from material walls and to allow spin–flip pulses were also added. These tools were used to simulate neutron precession in a room temperature neutron electric dipole moment experiment and predict the values of the longitudinal and transverse relaxation times as well as the trapping lifetime. All three parameters are found to closely match the experimentally determined values when simulated with both the exact and adiabatic methods, confirming that Kassiopeia is able to accurately simulate neutral particles. This opens the door for future uses of Kassiopeia to prototype the next generation of atomic traps and UCN experiments.

Towards CP -violation studies on superheavy molecules: Theoretical and experimental perspectives

Molecules containing superheavy atoms can be artificially created to serve as sensitive probes for study of symmetry-violating phenomena. Here, we provide a detailed theoretical study for diatomic molecules containing the superheavy lawrencium nuclei. The sensitivity to time-reversal violating properties was studied for different neutral and ionic molecules. The effective electric fields in these systems were found to be about 3-4 times larger than other known molecules on which electron electric dipole moment experiments are being performed. Similarly, these superheavy molecules exhibit an enhancement of more than 5 times for parity- and time-reversal-violating scalar-pseudoscalar nucleus-electron interactions. We also briefly comment on some experimental aspects by discussing the production of these systems.