The search for permanent electric dipole moments, in particular for the one of the neutron

by Klaus Kirch

Thursday 17 Jun 2010, 16:30 → 17:30 Europe/Zurich

Main Auditorium** (CERN)

Nonzero permanent electric dipole moments (EDM) of fundamental systems like particles, nuclei, atoms or molecules violate parity and time reversal invariance. Invoking the CPT theorem, time reversal violation implies CP violation. Although CP-violation is implemented in the standard electro-weak theory, EDM generated this way remain undetectably small. However, this CP-violation also appears to fail explaining the observed baryon asymmetry of our universe. Extensions of the standard theory usually include new CP violating phases which often lead to the prediciton of larger EDM. EDM searches in different systems are complementary and various efforts worldwide are underway, but no finite value could be established yet. An improved search for the EDM of the neutron requires, among other things, much better statistics. At PSI, we are presently commissioning a new high intensity source of ultracold neutrons. At the same time, with an international collaboration, we are setting up for a new measurement of the neutron EDM which is starting this year.

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Poster Colloquium17.06.10.pdf

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