Polarizabilities as probes for P, T, and PT violation

Abstract Searches for violations of the fundamental symmetries of parity P and time reversal T in atomic and molecular systems provide a powerful tool for precise measurements of the physics of and beyond the standard model. In this work, we investigate how these symmetry violations affect the response of atoms and molecules to applied electric and magnetic fields. We recover well-known observables such as the P -odd, T -odd spin-electric field coupling that is used for searches of the electron electric dipole moment or the effect of P -odd, T -even optical rotation in atomic gases. Besides these, we obtain several other possible observables. This includes, in particular, effects that can only be seen when using oscillating or inhomogeneous fields.