Electron electric-dipole-moment experiment using electric-field quantized slow cesium atoms

A proof-of-principle electron electric-dipole-moment $\left(e\text{−}\mathrm{EDM}\right)$ experiment using slow cesium atoms, nulled magnetic fields, and electric-field quantization has been performed. With the ambient magnetic fields seen by the atoms reduced to less than $200\mathrm{pT}$, an electric field of $6\mathrm{MV}∕\mathrm{m}$ lifts the degeneracy between states of unequal $\mid m_F\mid$ and, along with the low $(\approx 3\mathrm{m}∕\mathrm{s})$ velocity, suppresses the systematic effect from the motional magnetic field. The low velocity and small residual magnetic field have made it possible to induce transitions between states and to perform state preparation, analysis, and detection in regions free of applied static magnetic and electric fields. This experiment demonstrates techniques that may be used to improve the $e\text{−}\mathrm{EDM}$ limit by two orders of magnitude, but it is not in itself a sensitive $e\text{−}\mathrm{EDM}$ search, mostly due to limitations of the laser system.