Limit on the electron electric dipole moment in gadolinium-iron garnet

• Published in: Physical review letters Vol. 95; no. 25; pp. 253004.1 - 253004.4
• Main Authors: HEIDENREICH, B. J, ELLIOTT, O. T, LAMOREAUX, S. K, CHARNEY, N. D, VIRGIEN, K. A, BRIDGES, A. W, MCKEON, M. A, PECK, S. K, KRAUSE, D. JR, GORDON, J. E, HUNTER, L. R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ridge, NY American Physical Society 16-12-2005
• Subjects: Atomic and molecular physics; Atomic properties and interactions with photons; CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Electric and magnetic moments, polarizability; ELECTRIC DIPOLE MOMENTS; ELECTRIC POTENTIAL; ELECTRONS; Exact sciences and technology; FERRITE GARNETS; GADOLINIUM COMPOUNDS; MAGNETIC DIPOLES; MAGNETIC FIELDS; Magnetic properties and materials; MAGNETIZATION; Magnetomechanical and magnetoelectric effects, magnetostriction; Physics; Properties of atoms and atomic ions; T INVARIANCE; Magnetization; Electric dipole moments
• ISSN: 0031-9007; 1079-7114
• DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.95.253004

A new method for the detection of the electron electric dipole moment (EDM) using a solid is described. The method involves the measurement of a voltage induced across the solid by the alignment of the sample's magnetic dipoles in an applied magnetic field, H. A first application of the method to GdIG has resulted in a limit on the electron EDM of 5 x 10(-24)e cm, which is a factor of 40 below the limit obtained from the only previous solid-state EDM experiment. The result is limited by the imperfect discrimination of an unexpectedly large voltage that is even upon the reversal of the sample magnetization.