The electron may not be perfectly round, and its shape could explain why the Universe is made of matter instead of nothing at all. Our best models of physics cannot account for the near-total absence of antimatter in the cosmos. Many theories predict that the same unknown forces responsible for this imbalance would also distort the electron into a slightly asymmetric shape—like a tiny, stretched egg. This project aims to measure that shape with unprecedented precision by trapping ultracold molecules in laser light and probing the electrons bound inside them. If the electron’s asymmetry is detected, it would provide the first direct evidence of new fundamental forces beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. That discovery would reshape our understanding of how the Universe came to exist in its current form. This is fundamental science. There is no immediate practical application. But past precision measurements of this kind—such as tests of quantum electrodynamics—have led to technologies like atomic clocks, which underpin GPS navigation, and laser cooling methods now used in quantum computing. A deeper understanding of symmetry and matter could, over decades, open entirely new domains of physics and technology.
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Our vision is to discover the symmetry-violating forces that generated the imbalance between matter and antimatter in the Universe by advancing the state of the art in precision quantum measurement. There is virtually no antimatter in the visible Universe. This asymmetry between matter and antimatter is one of the greatest mysteries in science. It cannot be explained using our best models of physics, implying that the forces responsible for the imbalance have yet to be discovered. Many theories of these new forces have been developed, but they lack empirical support. In almost all theories, the symmetry-violating forces that generate matter-antimatter imbalance also endow fundamental particles with an asymmetric shape. Our aim is to measure the shape of the electron with unprecedented precision and to interpret our results in the context of matter-antimatter asymmetry. The motivation for this work comes from particle physics and cosmology, but many of the tools we need come from the quantum science community. The best approach is to use electrons that are bound up inside polar molecules. To reach the highest precision, those molecules should be cooled near absolute zero and trapped using laser light. We also need measurement protocols that minimize sensitivity to potential errors, and analysis tools that can detect the signatures of errors in the data and correct for them. The objectives of this proposal are: Understand how our measurements will determine or constrain the parameters of new theories. Prepare an array of ultracold molecules. Build a magnetically shielded apparatus suitable for our measurements. Prepare the data analysis tools we will need. To realize our vision, we have assembled an inter-disciplinary team that brings together experts in the phenomena and methodologies of particle physics, which is the domain of STFC, with experts in the quantum control of ultracold matter, the domain of EPSRC. Beyond this specific project, there are many benefits in bringing together these two communities, who have very different practices and do not often work together towards common goals, despite the very great potential of this approach. Particle physics will benefit by learning about the methods of ultra-precise measurements used in quantum science. Quantum science will benefit by acquiring the tools pioneered in particle physics - tools for designing and building complex experiments, and for analyzing complex datasets. Both disciplines will benefit from the very different approaches to managing scientific projects practiced by the two communities. We aim to harness these differences to encourage creativity and unlock new capabilities that would not otherwise emerge.
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