A robust limit for the electric dipole moment of the electron

Electric dipole moments constitute a competitive method to search for new physics, being particularly sensitive to new C P-violating phases. Given the experimental and theoretical progress in this field and more generally in particle physics, the necessity for more reliable bounds than the ones usually employed emerges. We therefore propose an improved extraction of the electric dipole moment of the electron and the relevant coefficient of the electron-nucleon coupling, taking into account theoretical uncertainties and possible cancellations, to be used in model-dependent analyses. Specifically, we obtain at 95% C.L. vertical bar de vertical bar <= 0.14 x 10(-26) e cm with present data, which is very similar to the bound typically quoted from the YbF molecule, but obtained in a more conservative manner. We examine furthermore in detail the prospects for improvements and derive upper limits for the dipole moments of several paramagnetic systems presently under investigation, i.e. cesium, rubidium and francium.