Scientists trap antimatter for nearly 17 minutes

Posted on Monday, June 06 2011 @ 21:28 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck
CERN researchers have managed to trap antihydrogen atoms for 16 minutes and 40 seconds at world's largest physics laboratory in Geneva, Switzerland. That's roughly 16 minutes and 40 seconds longer than the first attempt in 2010, which lasted for only 172 milliseconds. More info at TIME.
How'd they pull it off for over 16 minutes? Physicists working on the ALPHA experiment at the world's largest particle physics laboratory in Geneva, Switzerland "loaded" the trap by producing "anti-atoms" (sounds so Ed Wood, no?). Those anti-atoms were created in a process that involved "merging cold plasmas." Okay, so antimatter is kind of like lightning—another type of plasma—or at least has a relationship to it, in terms of how it's produced.

The scientists initially created a bunch of antiprotons, cooled them using "cold electron plasma," merged that with specially prepared positrons, and presto—antihydrogen atoms! Since antihydrogen atoms are impervious to electricity, the scientists used superconducting magnets to corral them long enough to conduct measurements. (


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Thomas De Maesschalck

Thomas has been messing with computer since early childhood and firmly believes the Internet is the best thing since sliced bread. Enjoys playing with new tech, is fascinated by science, and passionate about financial markets. When not behind a computer, he can be found with running shoes on or lifting heavy weights in the weight room.



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