Physicists Hold Single Antimatter Particle for Months and Control Its Quantum States
Physicists at Northwestern University have held a single positron -- the antimatter twin of the electron -- in a trap for months and manipulated it one quantum jump at a time. They call their setup a ‘one-positron quantum cyclotron.’ The post Physicists Hold Single Antimatter Particle for Months and Control Its Quantum States appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News .
Physicists at Northwestern University in Illinois have successfully trapped a single positron, the antimatter counterpart of the electron, for months at a time. According to New Scientist, the positron shares the same mass as an electron but possesses an opposite electric charge. Because positrons typically annihilate instantly upon meeting electrons, they are difficult to study, but researchers have managed to capture one in a trap using invisible walls.
The researchers, including Gerald Gabrielse, refer to their setup as a “one-positron quantum cyclotron,” according to Sci.News. The team has been able to manipulate the particle one quantum jump at a time and coax it into a controlled quantum state, Phys.org reports.
By analyzing data collected while the particle is trapped, the team plans to precisely measure the properties of the antiparticle. New Scientist reports that these measurements may allow researchers to investigate the standard model of particle physics and potentially challenge current mathematical models of physical reality.
Brief written by urgent.news from Sci.News, Phys.org, New Scientist, ScienceAlert — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
- A single antimatter particle was held in a trap for months newscientist.com
- Physicists trap and tame single particle of antimatter for months phys.org
- Physicists trap a single antimatter particle for a month scientificamerican.com
