Laser trapping of radium-225 atoms and progress towards an electric dipole moment measurement
Prof. Zheng-Tian Lu (Argonne National Lab, U.S.A.)

Permanent electric dipole moments (EDMs) in atoms or molecules are a signature of Time (T)-and Parity (P)-violation and represent an important window onto physics beyond the Standard Model. We are developing a next-generation EDM search around laser-cooled and -trapped Ra-225 (half-life = 15 d) atoms. Due to octupole deformation of the nucleus, Ra-225 is predicted to be two to three orders of magnitude more sensitive to T-violating interactions than Hg-199 (stable), which currently sets the most stringent limits in the nuclear sector. I will discuss our progress, including the successful laser-cooling and trapping of Ra-225 atoms.