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Main Authors: Sunaga, Ayaki, Fleig, Timo
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.05189
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author Sunaga, Ayaki
Fleig, Timo
author_facet Sunaga, Ayaki
Fleig, Timo
contents Diatomic molecules with an energetically low-lying $^3 Δ_1$ state are attractive platforms to detect new physics beyond the Standard Model, such as parity- and time-reversal violating phenomena. One of the advantages of using a $^3 Δ_1$ state is its tiny $Λ$-splitting due to the coupling between the electronic and rotational angular momenta, which facilitates polarizing the molecules in small external electric fields. Theoretical estimation of the magnitude of the $Λ$-splitting is helpful for planning new experiments. In this study, we present a theoretical model to calculate the $Λ$-splitting. Our model integrates the relativistic four-component wavefunction and the traditional rotational Hamiltonian based on Hund's case (a). The multireference character of the wavefunction is taken into account. Our calculations for PtH and ThF$^+$ molecules qualitatively agree with experiment. The $Λ$-splitting of TaO$^+$ for the rotational ground state is predicted to be around 9 kHz. This tiny splitting can reduce the systematic uncertainty, but in a practical experiment, it may cause depolarization during rotation ramp-up.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2511_05189
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Rotational Splittings in Diatomic Molecules of Interest to Searches for New Physics
Sunaga, Ayaki
Fleig, Timo
Atomic Physics
Diatomic molecules with an energetically low-lying $^3 Δ_1$ state are attractive platforms to detect new physics beyond the Standard Model, such as parity- and time-reversal violating phenomena. One of the advantages of using a $^3 Δ_1$ state is its tiny $Λ$-splitting due to the coupling between the electronic and rotational angular momenta, which facilitates polarizing the molecules in small external electric fields. Theoretical estimation of the magnitude of the $Λ$-splitting is helpful for planning new experiments. In this study, we present a theoretical model to calculate the $Λ$-splitting. Our model integrates the relativistic four-component wavefunction and the traditional rotational Hamiltonian based on Hund's case (a). The multireference character of the wavefunction is taken into account. Our calculations for PtH and ThF$^+$ molecules qualitatively agree with experiment. The $Λ$-splitting of TaO$^+$ for the rotational ground state is predicted to be around 9 kHz. This tiny splitting can reduce the systematic uncertainty, but in a practical experiment, it may cause depolarization during rotation ramp-up.
title Rotational Splittings in Diatomic Molecules of Interest to Searches for New Physics
topic Atomic Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.05189