Laser-controlled antihydrogen production by two-stage charge exchange

C. H. Storry*, N. Guise, B. Levitt, D. Le Sage, A. Speck, G. Gabrielse, D. Grzonka, W. Oelert, G. Schepers, T. Sefzick, H. Pittner, M. Herrmann, J. Walz, T. W. Hänsch, D. Comeau, M. George, E. A. Hessels

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Our ATRAP collaboration has now demonstrated a second technique for antihydrogen (H̄) production. Lasers are used for the first time to control the production of H̄ atoms in our cryogenic apparatus at CERN. As suggested in ref. [2] and first reported in ref. [1], lasers excite a thermal beam of cesium (Cs) atoms to a Rydberg state. In a first charge exchange collision one of these laser-excited Cs atoms (Cs*) and a cold e + produces positronium (Ps). Our measurements at Harvard([3]) and at CERN([1]) confirm CTMC simulations([2]) that the laser-selected binding energy in the Cs atom is preserved by the collision and results in Ps with the selected binding energy. A second charge exchange is between one of these Ps atoms and a trapped p̄. H̄ is produced by this second collision and is expected to again have the same binding energy. One advantage of this technique as discussed in ref. [2] is that the H̄ produced is expected to be extremely cold, at the temperature of the trapped p̄, allowing for possible confinement of the H̄ atoms in a magnetic trap.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationLOW ENERGY ANTIPROTON PHYSICS
Subtitle of host publicationEighth International Conference on Low Energy Antiproton Physics, LEAP'05
Pages291-295
Number of pages5
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 26 2005
EventLOW ENERGY ANTIPROTON PHYSICS: 8th International Conference on Low Energy Antiproton Physics, LEAP'05 - Bonn, Germany
Duration: May 16 2005May 22 2005

Publication series

NameAIP Conference Proceedings
Volume796
ISSN (Print)0094-243X
ISSN (Electronic)1551-7616

Other

OtherLOW ENERGY ANTIPROTON PHYSICS: 8th International Conference on Low Energy Antiproton Physics, LEAP'05
Country/TerritoryGermany
CityBonn
Period5/16/055/22/05

Keywords

  • Antihydrogen

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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