Direct measurement of charged particle EDMs

Permanent electric dipole moments (EDMs) violate parity and time-reversal symmetry. Within the Standard Model (SM), they require CP violation and are many orders of magnitude below present experimental sensitivity. Many extensions of the SM predict much larger EDMs, which are therefore an excellent probe for the existence of 'new physics'. Until recently it was believed that only electrically neutral systems could be used for sensitive searches of EDMs. With the introduction of a novel experimental method, high precision for charged systems will be within reach as well. The features of this method and its possibilities are discussed. (author)