Could Anti-Matter Really Be Stored and Contained for Experiments?

In summary, CERN has successfully isolated and maintained 38 atoms of antihydrogen for over 15 minutes using a magnetic trap. This feat was achieved through extensive research and experimentation, and while it may seem impossible, it is not due to the use of advanced technology and techniques.
  • #1
Syed Ammar
25
1
Wikipedia says CERN has isolated about 38 atoms of antihydrogen and maintained them for over 15 minutes? ... Do you think that is possible?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CERN
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Whenever you find a claim on wikipedia that you want to verify, follow the sources it cites. That's what they are for.
Here, I've done it for you this time:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13666892
http://www.nature.com/nphys/journal/v7/n7/full/nphys2025.html
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2010Natur.468..673A

The last two articles are paywalled, though.

ArXiv has got a number of papers on the subject:
http://arxiv.org/find/all/1/all:+AND+Trapped+antihydrogen/0/1/0/all/0/1 (scroll down a bit)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #3
Thanks.
 
  • #4
Syed Ammar said:
Wikipedia says CERN has isolated about 38 atoms of antihydrogen and maintained them for over 15 minutes? ... Do you think that is possible?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CERN

Why would it be impossible?
 
  • #5
I thought that anti-matter couldn`t be stored inside things made of matter (its opposite) that`s why I thought it was impossible..?
 
  • #6
Syed Ammar said:
I thought that anti-matter couldn`t be stored inside things made of matter (its opposite) that`s why I thought it was impossible..?

If you read the original report on CNN, the 38 atoms of anti-hydrogen were contained in a magnetic trap. These atoms were held in containment long enough for researchers to run experiments several hundred times.

It's not impossible to make anti-matter, given sufficient time and energy; the trick is to store the stuff and keep it from reacting with matter, which is why the magnetic trap is necessary.

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/11/18/switzerland.cern.antimatter/?hpt=Mid
 

What is the purpose of isolating antihydrogen?

The purpose of isolating antihydrogen is to study its properties and behavior in order to gain a better understanding of antimatter and its role in the universe. It can also potentially lead to advancements in fields such as particle physics and energy production.

What is the process of isolating antihydrogen?

The process of isolating antihydrogen involves creating a beam of antiprotons and a beam of positrons, and then bringing them together in a vacuum chamber to form antihydrogen atoms. The atoms are then trapped using magnetic fields and cooled to extremely low temperatures for further study.

How is antihydrogen different from regular hydrogen?

Antihydrogen is made up of an antiproton and a positron, while regular hydrogen is made up of a proton and an electron. Antihydrogen also has opposite charge and magnetic properties compared to regular hydrogen.

What challenges are involved in isolating antihydrogen?

One of the main challenges in isolating antihydrogen is producing enough antiprotons and positrons to create a significant amount of antihydrogen atoms. Another challenge is controlling the atoms and preventing them from coming into contact with regular matter, as this can cause annihilation and make it difficult to study their properties.

What are the potential implications of studying antihydrogen?

The study of antihydrogen could provide valuable insights into the fundamental laws of physics and help scientists understand the asymmetry between matter and antimatter in the universe. It could also lead to technological advancements and innovations in fields such as energy production and medical imaging.

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