Tag Archives: antimatter

Auburn researchers play role in antimatter breakthrough featured in journal Nature

AUBURN – A recent scientific breakthrough could lead to changes in the world of antimatter physics, according to Francis Robicheaux, an Auburn University physics professor and member of ALPHA, the international team of scientists conducting the antimatter research.

Last year the ALPHA (Anti-Hydrogen Laser Physics Apparatus) team was able to trap and hold the antimatter version of the hydrogen atom. They have now accomplished the goal they set at that time of being able to measure the fundamental properties of antihydrogen.

An article in this week’s edition of the journal Nature, titled “Resonant quantum transitions in trapped antihydrogen atoms,” describes the progress made in that research.

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Auburn’s Robicheaux part of antimatter research team featured in journal Nature Physics

AUBURN – Auburn University physics professor Francis Robicheaux is part of an international team of scientists, known as ALPHA, who made a scientific breakthrough last year by trapping and holding the antimatter version of the hydrogen atom. An article published in the June edition of the journal Nature Physics provides updated results of progress made in that research.

When the discovery was initially announced, the team had captured 38 atoms of antihydrogen, storing each for a mere sixth of a second. Since then, ALPHA has made significant progress by trapping 309 antihydrogen atoms, with some held for as long as 15 minutes. As a result of the longer holding times, the scientists are now able to work toward not only improved production of trappable anti-atoms but also the study of their dynamics.

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Auburn researcher part of team to trap and hold anti-hydrogen atoms for the first time

AUBURN – An international team of scientists including Auburn University physics professor Francis Robicheaux has trapped and held the antimatter version of the hydrogen atom for the first time in history. The team’s breakthrough could test fundamental physics. The journal Nature published the results of the experiment Nov. 17.

“This breakthrough is significant because it’s the first time we’ve been able to hold the atomic form of antimatter. We’re now gearing up to perform high-precision experiments on these anti-atoms,” Robicheaux said. “We’re closer to learning the very basic behavior of antimatter and why the universe is made of matter.”

The lack of antimatter in the universe remains one of the biggest mysteries of science.

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