Illuminating Antimatter: the ALPHA antihydrogen experiment at CERN

by Jeffrey Hangst

Arhus University
at Physics Colloquium

Mon, 12 Apr 2021, 16:10
Zoom

Abstract

The ALPHA experiment at the Antiproton Decelerator is unique in its combined ability to produce, trap, and study atoms of antihydrogen - the simplest anti-atom. The Standard Model requires that hydrogen and antihydrogen have the same spectrum. Transition frequencies in hydrogen can be measured with precisions of order 10^-15. The precision in antihydrogen at ALPHA is now of order 10^-12, making atom/anti-atom comparisons among the most precise, direct tests of fundamental symmetries in Nature. Also of fundamental interest is the gravitational behaviour of antimatter, the study of which is the goal of the new ALPHA-g experiment. I will discuss the decades of development necessary to achieve the latest groundbreaking results in ALPHA. Among the latter is the demonstration of laser cooling of antihydrogen, published last week in Nature. I will then consider the future of spectroscopy and gravitational studies with antihydrogen in the era of CERN’s brand-new ELENA facility, which will deliver antiprotons to us in August of 2021.

*** The Zoom link will be sent to all the department members on the day of the event. ***
*** This colloquium is joint with all the universities in Israel. We invite you to log in at 16:00 for socializing. The talk itself will start at 16:10. ***

Created on 07-04-2021 by Kats, Yevgeny (katsye)
Updaded on 07-04-2021 by Kats, Yevgeny (katsye)