Large numbers of cold positronium atoms created in laser-selected Rydberg states using resonant charge exchange

Lasers are used to control the production of highly excited positronium atoms (Ps∗). The laser light excites Cs atoms to Rydberg states that have a large cross section for resonant charge-exchange collisions with cold trapped positrons. For each trial with 30 million trapped positrons, more than 700 000 of the created Ps∗ have trajectories near the axis of the apparatus, and are detected using Stark ionization. This number of Ps∗ is 500 times higher than realized in an earlier proof-of-principle demonstration (2004 Phys. Lett. B 597 257). A second charge exchange of these near-axis Ps∗ with trapped antiprotons could be used to produce cold antihydrogen, and this antihydrogen production is expected to be increased by a similar factor.