Speaker
Description
Searches for electric dipole moments (EDM) of fundamental particles are considered one of the most sensitive approaches to physics beyond the Standard Model of particle physics (SM). A non-SM mechanism violating the combined symmetry of charge conjugation and parity inversion (CP-violation) could help to explain the observed baryon asymmetry of the Universe while manifesting itself as electric dipole moment of the neutron.
A discovery of an EDM of the neutron (nEDM) would indicate a violation of parity and time reversal symmetry (T) and assuming CPT invariance a violation of CP-symmetry. No nEDM has yet been observed. Several groups worldwide try to improve on the current best limit of dn<3×10-26ecm (90% C.L.) [Pendlebury et al. PRD92(2006)092003].
In this overview talk I will explain the principal experimental techniques, give an overview of the world wide efforts and finally discuss the status and newest results from the nEDM-collaboration at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland.
