2007/05/11 by Eugene D. Commins, J.D. Jackson, David DeMille · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #Atomic and Molecular Physics #Quantum Mechanics and Applications #Quantum and Classical Electrodynamics
paper · doi:10.1119/1.2710486
openalex publication_date 2007/05/11 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/11
In most experimental searches for the electron electric dipole moment, one searches for a linear Stark effect in a paramagnetic atom or molecule and interprets the result in terms of the electric dipole moment of the unpaired valence electron(s). Schiff’s theorem states that in the limit of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics, there can be no linear Stark effect to first order in the electric dipole moment. Sandars has shown that Schiff’s theorem is not applicable when special relativity is taken into account. We give a heuristic explanation for this relativistic effect, which corrects a widespread misconception in the literature.