Measurement scheme and analysis for weak ground-state-hyperfine-transition moments through two-pathway coherent control
Phys. Rev. A 93, 023432 – Published 29 February, 2016
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.93.023432
Abstract
We report our detailed analysis of a tabletop system for the measurement of the weak-force-induced electric dipole moment of a ground-state hyperfine transition carried out in an atomic beam geometry. We describe an experimental configuration of conductors for application of orthogonal rf and static electric fields, with cavity enhancement of the rf field amplitude, that allows confinement of the rf field to a region in which the static fields are uniform and well characterized. We carry out detailed numerical simulations of the field modes and analyze the expected magnitude of statistical and systematic limits to the measurement of this transition amplitude in atomic cesium. The combination of an atomic beam with this configuration leads to strong suppression of magnetic dipole contributions to the atomic signal. The application of this technique to the measurement of extremely weak transition amplitudes in other atomic systems, especially alkali metals, seems very feasible.