Techniques used to search for a permanent electric dipole moment of the 199Hg atom and the implications for CP violation

We discuss in detail the search for a permanent electric dipole moment (EDM) of the Hg-199 atom reported by Griffith et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 101601 (2009)]. The upper bound, d(Hg-199) < 3.1 x 10(-29) e cm (95% C.L.), is a factor of 7 improvement over the best previous EDM limit for Hg-199, provides the most sensitive probe to date for EDMs in diamagnetic atoms, and sets new limits on time-reversal symmetry violation in extensions to the standard model. This paper provides extensive discussion of the techniques used to search for the Hg-199 EDM and the implications of the new Hg-199 EDM limit for CP violation in elementary particle interactions. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.87.012102