CERN researchers transported antimatter particles in a groundbreaking test

CERN transported antimatter safely in a world-first test over a route of four kilometers.

: In a significant scientific development, CERN researchers have successfully transported small quantities of antimatter using a portable containment device, proving such matter can be safely handled outside laboratory confines. This groundbreaking test involved a two-meter containment device that allowed antimatter to be trucked around the CERN facility for four kilometers without an external power source. This demonstration opens the door for new, precise studies of antimatter at external sites, potentially enhancing measurement precision that can be affected by magnetic field fluctuations at CERN's Antimatter Factory. The successful experiment paves the way for plans to transport antimatter to Germany's Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, about 800 kilometers from Geneva.

CERN researchers have achieved a groundbreaking milestone by successfully transporting antimatter particles outside their laboratory for the first time. Utilizing the BASE-STEP system—a compact, transportable Penning trap—they safely moved a cloud of trapped protons across CERN’s campus, crossing the France-Switzerland border and returning without any particle loss. This demonstration confirms the feasibility of relocating antimatter using public roads, paving the way for advanced research opportunities in physics.

The BASE-STEP apparatus is a sophisticated device designed to store and transport antimatter. It comprises a cryogenic vacuum chamber embedded within a superconducting magnet, housing two electrode stacks: the Catching Trap (CT) and the Storage Trap (ST). These components ensure the stable confinement of antiprotons by minimizing energy loss and maintaining ultra-high vacuum conditions. The system operated autonomously without external power for four hours during the transport, showcasing its robustness and reliability.

Transporting antimatter presents significant challenges due to its tendency to annihilate upon contact with regular matter. The BASE-STEP system addresses this by employing magnetic and electric fields to isolate the particles, preventing any interaction with matter. The successful transport of protons serves as a proof of concept, indicating that antiprotons can also be moved safely, provided that even stricter vacuum conditions are maintained.

This advancement holds profound implications for the study of fundamental physics. By enabling the relocation of antimatter to low-noise laboratories, researchers can conduct more precise measurements of properties like the magnetic moment and charge-to-mass ratio of antiprotons. Such studies are crucial for testing the Standard Model of particle physics and exploring the matter-antimatter asymmetry in the universe.

Looking ahead, CERN plans to expand the use of transportable antimatter traps to other experiments, such as PUMA, which aims to study the interactions between antiprotons and exotic nuclei. The ability to move antimatter safely opens new avenues for research across various facilities, potentially leading to groundbreaking discoveries in our understanding of the universe.

Sources: Nature, CERN, TechSpot, NDTV, The Guardian

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