Conveners
Molecules
- Daniel Kienzler
Description
The study of molecules allows to probe sectors of fundamental physics to which atomic systems are not sensitive and thus offer complementary tools for probes into BSM physics. For instance, their rotation and vibration is directly dependent on the proton-electron mass ratio and the strong electric fields in some molecular species can be used to probe the eEDM. With recent transfer of techniques originally developed for atomic systems to molecules and research into novel cooling, state-preparation and trapping techniques, control and spectroscopy precision of molecules is im-proving towards the level of their atomic counterparts. This already allows to determine the proton-electron mass ratio and probe the eEDM at record precision and molecular probes could be further improved with the expected implementation of high-precision optical molecular clocks. Switzerland has three groups focused on high-precision spectroscopy and quantum control of molecules also aiming to put their techniques to use for new physics searches.
Spectroscopy of the HD$^+$ molecular ion has made a ''quantum'' leap in recent years, reaching part-per-trillion precision by use of techniques for Doppler-free excitation. The theoretical precision has also been improved, both in the spin-averaged transition frequencies and in hyperfine structure.
Under the assumption that the Standard Model correctly describes the physics of HD$^+$,...
Recent advances in precise control and study of molecules have opened up new opportunities for fundamental physics research. Radioactive molecules, in particular, can be artificially created to contain nuclei with extreme proton-to-neutron ratios, providing an extreme sensitivity to symmetry-violating nuclear properties. Precision measurements of these systems can offer unique and...
The complexity and variety of molecules offer promising applications in metrology and quantum information that go beyond what is possible with atomic systems. We aim to study light molecular ions that are amongst the most fundamental and simplest molecules. Their internal structure can be calculated, making them prime candidates for the determination of fundamental constants as well as for...
