Graduation Year

2021

Document Type

Open Access Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Physics

Reader 1

Richard Mawhorter

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© 2021 Alexander T Preston

Abstract

This thesis is inspired by recent developments in the realm of fundamental physics. Spectroscopic studies on diatomic molecules are at the forefront of such endeavors. High-precision microwave spectroscopy probing the rotational energy level transitions of the molecules AlCl and BaF are analyzed at length in this work. The frequency data for these molecules are evaluated using the programs SPFIT and SPCAT in order to develop a “global fit” numerical model of the rotational, vibrational, nuclear, and hyperfine parameters characterizing the systems. Born-Oppenheimer breakdown terms used to amend inconsistencies in the spectral coefficients are determined for both systems. Previously published data for AlCl from three source studies is robustly compiled in this thesis, improving the designation of the fit parameters which can be used by innovative laser cooling and trapping experiments performed using AlCl. Recently measured BaF Fourier-transform microwave (FTMW) transition frequencies are confirmed in this work through a successful fit integrated along with previous source study data. The improved BaF parameter set obtained by this thesis can be applied to intriguing experiments using the molecule in search of physics beyond the Standard Model such as measuring the electron electric dipole moment (eEDM) and nuclear anapole moments.

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