The observed matter-antimatter asymmetry of the universe is widely considered to be an indication of the existence of beyond the Standard Model time-reversal symmetry violating physics. This dissertation describes work on a new molecular beam experiment (CeNTREX) to search for T-violating physics in the hyperfine structure of the diatomic molecule thallium-205 fluoride (TlF). This thesis presents progress on various modules of the experiment. Experimental results from characterizing the TlF cryogenic buffer gas beam source are presented. We also report an improved measurement of the gain in useful signal due to the rotational cooling scheme of the experiment. Rotational state preparation using microwave driven adiabatic passage in a spatially-varying electric field is discussed, and experimental results are presented. The design of an electrostatic lens to guide the trajectories of molecules emerging from the beam source is also presented.
Thesis Advisor: Steve Lamoreaux (steve.lamoreaux@yale.edu)