arXiv subjects

C. H. Storry

Publications and source records attributed to C. H. Storry.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

Matrix isolated barium monofluoride: Assembling a sample of BaF molecules for a measurement of the electron electric dipole moment

A cryogenic neon solid doped with barium monofluoride (BaF) is created on a cryogenic substrate using a stream of Ne gas and a high-intensity beam of BaF molecules produced in a cryogenic helium-buffer-gas laser-ablation source. The apparatus is designed for eventual use in a measurement of the electron electric dipole moment (eEDM). Laser-induced fluorescence is observed from transitions up to the $B\,^2Σ_{1/2}$ state. The number of BaF molecules found to be present in the solid and addressable with this laser transition is approximately 10$^{10}$ per mm$^3$, which is of the same order as the total number of BaF molecules that impact the substrate during the hour of growth time for the solid. As a result, an eventual eEDM measurement could have continual access to an accumulation of an hour's worth of molecules (all of which are contained within a 1-mm$^3$ volume and are thermalized into the ground state), compared to beam experiments which study the molecules from a single ablation during the millisecond-timescale of their passage through a much larger-scale measurement apparatus. The number of BaF molecules observed in the doped solid matches the target value for our planned eEDM measurement.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2024

Specular reflection of polar molecules from a simple multi-cylinder electrostatic mirror: a method for separating BaF molecules produced in a buffer-gas-cooled laser-ablation source from other ablation products

A method for specular reflection of polar molecules is proposed. Electrostatatic potentials and forces are calculated for a low-field-seeking molecule near a series of long cylindrical electrodes of radius $r$ with dc potentials of $+V$ and $-V$ applied to alternate electrodes. A center-to-center separation of $2.9\,r$ leads to remarkably flat equipotential surfaces and thus to a nearly planar mirror for specular reflection of the polar molecules, with the angle of reflection equalling the angle of incidence to an accuracy approaching a microradian. This mirror can be used to redirect cryogenic molecular beams. Separating barium monofluoride (BaF) molecules created in a helium-buffer-gas laser-ablation source from other ablation products is a necessary step to producing a pure sample of matrix-isolated BaF, as is required by the EDM$^3$ collaboration for implementing a precise measurement of the electron electric dipole moment. The design and modelling for the BaF deflector based on this electrode geometry is presented.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2024

Optical pumping of matrix-isolated barium monofluoride: dependence on the orientation of the BaF molecular axis

Optical pumping of barium monofluoride (BaF) within a cryogenic neon matrix is demonstrated. Interestingly, with an applied magnetic field of 2~G, optical pumping is found to be considerably more efficient for a laser beam with right-circular polarization compared to left-circular polarization. Calculations show that the higher efficiency is due to a constructive versus destructive interference and is dependent on the orientation of the BaF molecule relative to the magnetic field direction. The effect leads to orientation-dependent optical pumping within the matrix. As optical pumping is the first step used in our planned electron electric-dipole moment (eEDM) measurement, we intend to exploit this property to obtain the selection of molecular orientations that is required for an eEDM measurement.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2020

Two-Symmetry Penning-Ioffe Trap for Antihydrogen Cooling and Spectroscopy

High-accuracy spectroscopic comparisons of trapped antihydrogen atoms ($\overline{\text{H}}$) and hydrogen atoms ($\text{H}$) promise to stringently test the fundamental CPT symmetry invariance of the standard model of particle physics. ATRAP's nested Penning-Ioffe trap was developed for such studies. The first of its unique features is that its magnetic Ioffe trap for $\overline{\text{H}}$ atoms can be switched between quadrupole and octupole symmetries. The second is that it allows laser and microwave access perpendicular to the central axis of the traps.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2013

One-Particle Measurement of the Antiproton Magnetic Moment

\DeclareRobustCommand{\pbar}{\HepAntiParticle{p}{}{}\xspace} \DeclareRobustCommand{\p}{\HepParticle{p}{}{}\xspace} \DeclareRobustCommand{\mup}{$μ_{p}${}{}\xspace} \DeclareRobustCommand{\mupbar}{$μ_{\pbar}${}{}\xspace} \DeclareRobustCommand{\muN}{$μ_N${}{}\xspace For the first time a single trapped \pbar is used to measure the \pbar magnetic moment ${\bmμ}_{\pbar}$. The moment ${\bmμ}_{\pbar} = μ_{\pbar} {\bm S}/(\hbar/2)$ is given in terms of its spin ${\bm S}$ and the nuclear magneton (\muN) by $μ_{\pbar}/μ_N = -2.792\,845 \pm 0.000\,012$. The 4.4 parts per million (ppm) uncertainty is 680 times smaller than previously realized. Comparing to the proton moment measured using the same method and trap electrodes gives $μ_{\pbar}/μ_p = -1.000\,000 \pm 0.000\,005$ to 5 ppm, for a proton moment ${\bmμ}_{p} = μ_{p} {\bm S}/(\hbar/2)$, consistent with the prediction of the CPT theorem.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2012

Trapped Antihydrogen in Its Ground State

Antihydrogen atoms are confined in an Ioffe trap for 15 to 1000 seconds -- long enough to ensure that they reach their ground state. Though reproducibility challenges remain in making large numbers of cold antiprotons and positrons interact, 5 +/- 1 simultaneously-confined ground state atoms are produced and observed on average, substantially more than previously reported. Increases in the number of simultaneously trapped antithydrogen atoms are critical if laser-cooling of trapped antihydrogen is to be demonstrated, and spectroscopic studies at interesting levels of precision are to be carried out.

physics.atom-ph↗