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H. T. Ashworth

Publications and source records attributed to H. T. Ashworth.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Pulsed beams as field probes for precision measurement

We describe a technique for mapping the spatial variation of static electric, static magnetic, and rf magnetic fields using a pulsed atomic or molecular beam. The method is demonstrated using a beam designed to measure the electric dipole moment of the electron. We present maps of the interaction region, showing sensitivity to (i) electric field variation of 1.5 V/cm at 3.3 kV/cm with a spatial resolution of 15 mm; (ii) magnetic field variation of 5 nT with 25 mm resolution; (iii) radio-frequency magnetic field amplitude with 15 mm resolution. This new diagnostic technique is very powerful in the context of high-precision atomic and molecular physics experiments, where pulsed beams have not hitherto found widespread application.

physics.atom-ph↗

Probing the electron EDM with cold molecules

We present progress towards a new measurement of the electron electric dipole moment using a cold supersonic beam of YbF molecules. Data are currently being taken with a sensitivity of $10^{-27}\textrm{e.cm}/\sqrt{\textrm{day}}$. We therefore expect to make an improvement over the Tl experiment of Commins' group, which currently gives the most precise result. We discuss the systematic and statistical errors and comment on the future prospect of making a measurement at the level of $10^{-29}\textrm{e.cm}/\sqrt{\textrm{day}}$.

physics.atom-ph↗