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

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of storing and containing antimatter for experimental purposes, specifically referencing the isolation of antihydrogen atoms at CERN. Participants explore the implications of this capability and the challenges associated with antimatter containment.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants reference Wikipedia's claim that CERN has isolated 38 atoms of antihydrogen for over 15 minutes, questioning the validity of this assertion.
  • Others suggest verifying Wikipedia claims by checking the sources it cites, providing links to articles and papers for further reading.
  • One participant expresses skepticism about the possibility of storing antimatter within matter, citing the opposing nature of antimatter and matter.
  • Another participant clarifies that antimatter can be contained using magnetic traps, which prevent it from reacting with matter, thus enabling experiments to be conducted.
  • There is a mention that while creating antimatter is theoretically possible with sufficient resources, the challenge lies in its storage and containment.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants exhibit a mix of agreement and disagreement. While some acknowledge the possibility of storing antimatter using magnetic traps, others remain uncertain about the feasibility of such containment due to the inherent properties of antimatter.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference various sources, including paywalled articles and arXiv papers, indicating limitations in access to some information. The discussion also highlights the need for further verification of claims made in popular sources like Wikipedia.

Syed Ammar
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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
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:
Thanks.
 
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?
 
I thought that anti-matter couldn`t be stored inside things made of matter (its opposite) that`s why I thought it was impossible..?
 
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
 

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