Searches for fundamental symmetry violations benefit from large internal molecular fields, high polarizability, internal co-magnetometry, and the ability to cycle photons - all of which can be found in certain engineered polyatomic species. We discuss experimental and theoretical developments in several linear metal hydroxide (MOH) species, including spectroscopy, photon cycling, and quantum control. We discuss how polyatomic structure gives rise to unique capabilities, such as the existence of measurement schemes which are sensitive to symmetry violations but insensitive to external fields. We also discuss the cooling and spectroscopic measurements of radium-containing polyatomic molecules, whose exotic nuclear features give rise to further dramatic enhancements in sensitivity to symmetry violations, using methods which should be applicable to a wide range of molecules with exotic nuclei.

Education

Ph.D., Harvard University, Physics, 2014

A.M., Harvard University, Physics, 2009

B.S., California Institute of Technology, Mathematics, 2007

La Crosse Central High School, La Crosse, WI, 2003