Spin spectroscopy of YbF using molecular beam interferometry

In this thesis I will describe the design, construction and use of a molecular beam interferometer. The purpose of the interferometer is to make an improved measurement of the electric dipole moment (EDM) of the electron. The principle is to prepare a beam of YbF molecules in a superposition state where part of the amplitude is electron spin-up and part is spin-down. In the presence of an electric field a phase shift develops between the two parts which the interferometer is designed to measure. During the course of this research I have advanced this experiment from being an empty room to the point where we have a working interferometer ready to make the first serious EDM measurement. Preliminary results indicate a sensitivity that may eventually reach a level well below 10-27 e cm. (author)