A theoretical survey of formation of antihydrogen atoms in a Penning trap

Journal Article · Thu Aug 02 04:00:00 EDT 2007 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2768837· OSTI ID:21067352

Vrinceanu, D ^[1]

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1. Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545 (United States)

Numerous antihydrogen atoms are created at CERN, by ATRAP and ATHENA experiments, by bringing together positrons and antiprotons in a magnetic Penning trap. Most of these atoms are created in exotic, highly excited states, such that the magnetic forces on positrons are greater than the Coulomb attraction of antiprotons. This paper presents an overview of the recent progress made toward theoretical understanding of the complicated dynamics which leads to the formation and detection of antihydrogen atoms. There is no formal difference between the plasmas described here and normal, electron-proton, matter plasmas, except the reversed sign of electrical charges. The next generation of experiments need to bring the antihydrogen atoms to the ground state and to cool them to sub-milliKelvin temperature. Only then, high resolution spectroscopy can expose differences between matter and antimatter due to CPT violations. Suggestions are made for possible pathways toward this goal.

• OSTI ID: 21067352
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 926; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ANTIPROTONS
CERN
COULOMB FIELD
CPT THEOREM
ELECTRONS
EMISSION SPECTROSCOPY
EXCITED STATES
GROUND STATES
HADRONIC ATOMS
PLASMA
POSITRONS
RESOLUTION
TRAPS