Characterization and Suppression of Systematic Errors in the ACME Electron Electric Dipole Moment Search

In the search for the electron's electric dipole moment (eEDM) in the H ³Δ₁ state of ThO, the ACME collaboration has characterized and suppressed a number of systematic errors on the order of the experiment's statistical sensitivity δd_e 10^-28 e . cm /√{ T / days } , where T is experiment duration. Through intentional experimental parameter variation we have explored the impact of imperfect field reversals, laser polarization gradients, changes in field magnitudes, and other potential sources of systematic error on the measured value of the eEDM. In particular, we report on the details of an eEDM mimicking effect caused by the coupling of an imperfect electric field reversal to a laser detuning dependent molecule phase obtained during optical pumping. We discuss ways in which this effect was suppressed to a level below the experiment's statistical error by technical means.

Work supported by the NSF.