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arXiv · 1201.2717

Trapped Antihydrogen in Its Ground State

G. Gabrielse·R. Kalra·W. S. Kolthammer·R. McConnell·P. Richerme·D. Grzonka·W. Oelert·T. Sefzick·M. Zielinski·D. W. Fitzakerley·M. C. George·E. A. Hessels·C. H. Storry·M. Weel·A. Müllers·J. Walz
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Abstract

Antihydrogen atoms are confined in an Ioffe trap for 15 to 1000 seconds -- long enough to ensure that they reach their ground state. Though reproducibility challenges remain in making large numbers of cold antiprotons and positrons interact, 5 +/- 1 simultaneously-confined ground state atoms are produced and observed on average, substantially more than previously reported. Increases in the number of simultaneously trapped antithydrogen atoms are critical if laser-cooling of trapped antihydrogen is to be demonstrated, and spectroscopic studies at interesting levels of precision are to be carried out.

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G. Gabrielse, R. Kalra, W. S. Kolthammer, R. McConnell, P. Richerme, D. Grzonka, W. Oelert, T. Sefzick, M. Zielinski, D. W. Fitzakerley, M. C. George, E. A. Hessels, C. H. Storry, M. Weel, A. Müllers, J. Walz. 2012-01-13. Trapped Antihydrogen in Its Ground State. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.108.113002

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