JAPC - Physics with Low-energy Antimatter

Speaker: Prof. Clifford Surko, Department of Physics, University of California, San Diego

Topic: "Physics with Low-energy Antimatter"

Time: 2:00 PM, Friday, May 1st, 2009

Place: P-148 (refreshments will be served at 1:45 PM in P145A)

Abstract: Progress in accumulating and cooling positrons and antiprotons is enabling new science. This talk presents an overview of some recent results and near-term challenges. A driver for this work is the development of new ways to create and manipulate antimatter plasmas. Work in this area will be reviewed, setting the stage for the discussion of new science in selected areas. Atomic physics experiments have revealed the resonant capture of positrons by molecules. They provide evidence that positrons bind to 'ordinary' matter and measures of positron-molecule binding energies - a key step in developing a quantitative antimatter-matter chemistry. In another area, low-energy antihydrogen (stable, neutral antimatter) is now being created by the merger of cold antiproton and positron plasmas. A key goal here is to make precision tests of fundamental physics such as the CPT theorem. Other implications of new antimatter technology will also be discussed, including a trap to increase by orders of magnitude the number of positrons stored, colder and brighter positron beams for atomic physics and materials studies, and the possibility of portable antimatter traps.

For references and links to relevant material, see http://positrons.ucsd.edu.

Hosted by: Dr. Michael Bromley.

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