40min:
PROBING FUNDAMENTAL PHYSICS WITH COLD AND ULTRACOLD MOLECULES.

E. A. HINDS, B. E. SAUER, J. J. HUDSON, M. R. TARBUTT, D. M. KARA, Centre for Cold Matter, Imperial College London, SW7 2AZ.

The search for an electron EDM is a search for new particle physics. We are measuring the electron EDM using a beam of cold YbF. The present version of our experiment has the statistical sensitivity to make a measurement at the level of a few times 10-28 e.cm. and this is in progress. Several upgrades now in preparation, will give a further tenfold improvement in sensitivity. I will discuss the present status of this programme and future prospects.

There is now a strong prospect of greatly improving sources of cold molecules towards much higher intensity and also towards much lower temperature. I will describe some of these methods and the new physics that is starting to become accessible as a result.