Search for Laser-Induced Formation of Antihydrogen Atoms

Journal Article · Fri Nov 24 00:00:00 EST 2006 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.97.213401· OSTI ID:20861401

Amoretti, M; Macri, M; Testera, G; Variola, A ^[1]; Amsler, C; Pruys, H; Regenfus, C ^[2]; Bonomi, G ^[3]; Bowe, P D; Ejsing, A M; Hangst, J S; Madsen, N ^[4]; Canali, C; Carraro, C; Lagomarsino, V; Manuzio, G ^[1]; Cesar, C L ^[5]; Charlton, M; Joergensen, L V; Mitchard, D ^[6]

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1. Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Genova, 16146 Genova (Italy)
2. Physik-Institut, Zuerich University, 8057 Zuerich (Switzerland)
3. Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica, Universita di Brescia, 25123 Brescia (Italy)
4. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Aarhus, 8000 Aarhus C (Denmark)
5. Instituto de Fisica, Univesidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21945-970 (Brazil)
6. Department of Physics, University of Wales Swansea, Swansea SA2 8PP (United Kingdom)

Antihydrogen can be synthesized by mixing antiprotons and positrons in a Penning trap environment. Here an experiment to stimulate the formation of antihydrogen in the n=11 quantum state by the introduction of light from a CO{sub 2} continuous wave laser is described. An overall upper limit of 0.8% with 90% C.L. on the laser-induced enhancement of the recombination has been found. This result strongly suggests that radiative recombination contributes negligibly to the antihydrogen formed in the experimental conditions used by the ATHENA Collaboration.

• OSTI ID: 20861401
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Vol. 97, Issue 21; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.97.213401; (c) 2006 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ANTIPROTONS
CARBON DIOXIDE LASERS
HYDROGEN
POSITRONS
RECOMBINATION