CERN traps antimatter atoms for 1,000 seconds

Monday, June 6, 2011

CERN traps antimatter atoms for 1,000 seconds

Monday, June 06, 2011 ANSOR No comments

aaaaaThe good folks at the European Organization for Nuclear Research, or CERN as we all like to call it, have successfully managed to trap antihydrogen atoms for 16 minutes and 40 seconds. Last year the scientists from the ALPHA (Antihydrogen Laser Physics Apparatus) experiment reportedly held antihydrogen atoms for 170 milliseconds.

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aaaaaSustaining antimatter atoms is extremely difficult because as soon as it comes into touch with any sort of atom (pretty much everything matter is made up of), the two destroy each other, releasing their energy. Therefore the scientists at CERN used superconducting octupole magnets to suspend 112 antihydrongen atoms for up to 16 minutes and 40 seconds.

aaaaa“We’ve trapped antihydrogen atoms for as long as 1,000 seconds, which is forever” in the world of high-energy particle physics, said Joel Fajans, a UC Berkeley professor of physics. Researching antimatter and all the data gathered within that time period will allow the fine folks at CERN to unravel the secrets of one of the most mysterious objects in the universe. Whether this will help humanity survive in the deepest reaches of space, only time will tell.