Manipulation and quantum control of ultracold atoms and molecules for precision measurements

This thesis reports on two experiments which aim at developing techniques for the next generation precision measurement experiments to search for a permanent electric dipole moment (EDM) of an atom or molecule. In the first experiment, we manipulate the 133Cs 6S_1/2(F = 4) atomic spin states with a transverse magnetic field. State-selective magnetic resonance and quantum state control were demonstrated experimentally. The flexibility in state manipulation could improve the experimental sensitivity to reach the quantum Heisenberg limit. In the second experiment, we built an apparatus to study the production of cold LiCs molecules. Double species trapping of Li and Cs atoms in a magneto-optical trap has been demonstrated. Calculations show that photoassociative collisions between the ultracold atoms could lead to high molecule production rates. An electrostatic trap was designed to hold those molecules to extend the interaction time. Using these techniques in a next generation EDM experiment could greatly increase the experimental sensitivity.