Characterizing the Fundamental Bending Vibration of a Linear Polyatomic Molecule for Symmetry Violation Searches

Abstract

Polyatomic molecules have been identified as sensitive probes of charge-parity violating and parity-violating physics beyond the Standard Model (BSM). For example, many linear triatomic molecules are both laser-coolable and have parity doublets in the ground electronic $\tilde{X}{}^2{\Sigma }^{+}(010)$ state arising from the bending vibration, both features that can greatly aid BSM searches. Understanding the $\tilde{X}{}^2{\Sigma }^{+}(010)$ state is a crucial prerequisite to precision measurements with linear polyatomic molecules. Here, we characterize fundamental bending vibration of ${}^{174}$YbOH using high-resolution optical spectroscopy on the nominally forbidden $\tilde{X}{}^2{\Sigma }^{+}(010)\to \tilde{A}{}^2{\Pi }_{1/2}(000)$ transition at 588 nm. We assign 39 transitions originating from the lowest rotational levels of the $\tilde{X}{}^2{\Sigma }^{+}(010)$ state, and accurately model the state's structure with an effective Hamiltonian using best-fit parameters. Additionally, we perform Stark and Zeeman spectroscopy on the $\tilde{X}{}^2{\Sigma }^{+}(010)$ state and fit the molecule-frame dipole moment to $D_{\mathrm{mol}}=2.16(1)$ D and the effective electron $g$-factor to $g_S=2.07(2)$. Further, we use an empirical model to explain observed anomalous line intensities in terms of interference from spin-orbit and vibronic perturbations in the excited $\tilde{A}{}^2{\Pi }_{1/2}(000)$ state. Our work is an essential step toward searches for BSM physics in YbOH and other linear polyatomic molecules.

26 pages, 7 figures

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• Optical cycling in polyatomic molecules with complex hyperfine structure
• Prospects for measuring the electron's electric dipole moment with polyatomic molecules in an optical lattice
• Laser cooled 137BaF molecules for measuring nuclear-spin-dependent parity violation
• Electronic matrix elements for parity doubling in YbOH molecule
• Rotational properties of two interacting cold polar molecules: linear, symmetric, and asymmetric tops
• Engineered Molecular Clock Transitions for Symmetry Violation Searches
• Nuclear Electric Quadrupole Moment-Induced Parity Doubling in Molecules for Symmetry-Violation Searches