6533b86ffe1ef96bd12ce8b2
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Large numbers of cold positronium atoms created in laser-selected Rydberg states using resonant charge exchange
M. C. GeorgeR. McconnellMarcin ZielińskiPhilip RichermeW. S. KolthammerGerald GabrielseD. W. FitzakerleyD. GrzonkaJochen WalzMatthew WeelA. MüllersE. A. HesselsC. H. Storrysubject
ANTIHYDROGENGeneral PhysicsAntiparticlepositronium0205 Optical Physics0307 Theoretical And Computational ChemistryPLASMASCONFINEMENTPhysics Atomic Molecular & Chemical01 natural sciences010305 fluids & plasmasPositroniumsymbols.namesake0202 Atomic Molecular Nuclear Particle And Plasma PhysicsIonization0103 physical sciencesPhysics::Atomic and Molecular ClustersPhysics::Atomic Physics010306 general physicsAntihydrogenpositronsPhysicsCondensed Matter::Quantum GasesScience & TechnologyPhysicsOpticsRydberg statesCondensed Matter PhysicsAtomic and Molecular Physics and Opticscharge-exchangeExcited stateAntimatterPhysical SciencesRydberg formulasymbolsAtomic physicsLeptondescription
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.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-01-04 |