First Laser-Controlled Antihydrogen Production

C. H. Storry, A. Speck, D. Le Sage, N. Guise, G. Gabrielse, D. Grzonka, W. Oelert, G. Schepers, T. Sefzick, H. Pittner, M. Herrmann, J. Walz (+3 others)
2004 Physical Review Letters  
Lasers are used for the first time to control the production of antihydrogen (H). Sequential, resonant charge exchange collisions are involved in a method that is very different than the only other method used so far-producing slow H during positron cooling of antiprotons in a nested Penning trap. Two attractive features are that the laser frequencies determine the H binding energy, and that the production of extremely cold H should be possible in principle -likely close to what is needed for
more » ... nfinement in a trap, as needed for precise laser spectroscopy.
doi:10.1103/physrevlett.93.263401 pmid:15697977 fatcat:6uoasdjyt5ajbln7hjph5lyrfu