111 research outputs found

    Development of a detector for inertial sensing of positronium at AEgIS (CERN)

    Get PDF
    The primary goal of the AEgIS collaboration at CERN is to measure the gravitational acceleration on neutral antimatter. Positronium (Ps), the bound state of an electron and a positron, is a suitable candidate for a force-sensitive inertial measurement by means of deflectometry/interferometry. In order to conduct such an experiment, the impact position and time of arrival of Ps atoms at the detector must be detected simultaneously. The detection of a low-velocity Ps beam with a spatial resolution of (88 ± 5) Όm was previously demonstrated [1]. Based on the methodology employed in [1] and [2], a hybrid imaging/timing detector with increased spatial resolution of about 10 Όm was developed. The performance of a prototype was tested with a positron beam. The concept of the detector and first results are presented

    Hybrid imaging and timing ps laser excitation diagnostics for pulsed antihydrogen production

    Get PDF
    open48siIn this work we present a hybrid detection method providing simultaneous imaging and timing information suitable for fully monitoring positronium (Ps) formation, its laser excitation, and its spatial propagation for the first trials of pulsed antihydrogen (H) production through a charge-exchange reaction with trapped antiprotons (p). This combined method, based on the synchronous acquisition of an EJ-200 scintillation detector and a microchannel plate (MCP) detector with a dual readout (phosphor screen image and electrical pick-up signal), allows all relevant events in the experiment to be accurately determined in time while allowing high resolution images of e+ from Ps laser photodissociations to be acquired. The timing calibration process of the two detectors discussed in details as well as the future perspectives opened by this method.openCaravita R.; Antonello M.; Belov A.; Bonomi G.; Brusa R.S.; Caccia M.; Camper A.; Castelli F.; Comparat D.; Consolati G.; Demetrio A.; Di Noto L.; Doser M.; Fani M.; Ferragut R.; Gerber S.; Giammarchi M.; Gligorova A.; Gloggler L.T.; Guatieri F.; Haider S.; Hinterberger A.; Khalidova O.; Krasnicky D.; Lagomarsino V.; Malbrunot C.; Mariazzi S.; Matveev V.; Muller S.R.; Nebbia G.; Nedelec P.; Oberthaler M.; Oswald E.; Pagano D.; Penasa L.; Petracek V.; Prelz F.; Rienacker B.; Rohne O.M.; Rotondi A.; Sandaker H.; Santoro R.; Testera G.; Tietje I.; Toso V.; Wolz T.; Zimmer C.; Zurlo N.Caravita, R.; Antonello, M.; Belov, A.; Bonomi, G.; Brusa, R. S.; Caccia, M.; Camper, A.; Castelli, F.; Comparat, D.; Consolati, G.; Demetrio, A.; Di Noto, L.; Doser, M.; Fani, M.; Ferragut, R.; Gerber, S.; Giammarchi, M.; Gligorova, A.; Gloggler, L. T.; Guatieri, F.; Haider, S.; Hinterberger, A.; Khalidova, O.; Krasnicky, D.; Lagomarsino, V.; Malbrunot, C.; Mariazzi, S.; Matveev, V.; Muller, S. R.; Nebbia, G.; Nedelec, P.; Oberthaler, M.; Oswald, E.; Pagano, D.; Penasa, L.; Petracek, V.; Prelz, F.; Rienacker, B.; Rohne, O. M.; Rotondi, A.; Sandaker, H.; Santoro, R.; Testera, G.; Tietje, I.; Toso, V.; Wolz, T.; Zimmer, C.; Zurlo, N

    Laser excitation of the n=3 level of positronium for antihydrogen production

    Get PDF
    We demonstrate the laser excitation of the n = 3 state of positronium (Ps) in vacuum. A combination of a specially designed pulsed slow positron beam and a high-efficiency converter target was used to produce Ps. Its annihilation was recorded by single-shot positronium annihilation lifetime spectroscopy. Pulsed laser excitation of the n = 3 level at a wavelength lambda approximate to 205 nm was monitored via Ps photoionization induced by a second intense laser pulse at lambda = 1064 nm. About 15% of the overall positronium emitted into vacuum was excited to n = 3 and photoionized. Saturation of both the n = 3 excitation and the following photoionization was observed and explained by a simple rate equation model. The positronium's transverse temperature was extracted by measuring the width of the Doppler-broadened absorption line. Moreover, excitation to Rydberg states n = 15 and 16 using n = 3 as the intermediate level was observed, giving an independent confirmation of excitation to the 3 P-3 state

    Velocity-selected production of 2S3 metastable positronium

    Get PDF
    Positronium in the 2 3 S metastable state exhibits a low electrical polarizability and a long lifetime (1140 ns), making it a promising candidate for interferometry experiments with a neutral matter-antimatter system. In the present work, 2 3 S positronium is produced, in the absence of an electric field, via spontaneous radiative decay from the 3 3 P level populated with a 205-nm UV laser pulse. Thanks to the short temporal length of the pulse, 1.5 ns full width at half maximum, different velocity populations of a positronium cloud emitted from a nanochanneled positron-positronium converter were selected by delaying the excitation pulse with respect to the production instant. 2 3 S positronium atoms with velocity tuned between 7 7 10 4 ms 121 and 10 7 10 4 ms 121 were thus produced. Depending on the selected velocity, a 2 3 S production efficiency ranging from 3c0.8% to 3c1.7%, with respect to the total amount of emitted positronium, was obtained. The observed results give a branching ratio for the 3 3 P-2 3 S spontaneous decay of (9.7 \ub1 2.7)%. The present velocity selection technique could allow one to produce an almost monochromatic beam of 3c1 7 10 3 2 3 S atoms with a velocity spread of <10 4 ms 121 and an angular divergence of 3c50 mrad

    Techniques for production and detection of 23S positronium

    Get PDF
    In this work, we show recent measurements of 23S long-lived positronium production via spontaneous decay from the 33P level. The possibility to tune the velocity of the 23S positronium, excited following this scheme, is presented. In the light of these results, we discuss the use of the 33P→23S transition to realize a monochromatic pulsed 23S positronium beam with low angular divergence. Preliminary tests of 23S beam production are presented. The possibility to overcome the natural 33P→23S branching ratio via stimulated emission, and thus increasing the intensity of the 23S source, is also shown. A position-sensitive detector for a pulsed beam of positronium, with spatial resolution of ≈ 90 ÎŒm, is finally described in view of its possible application for the spatial characterization of the 23S beam

    Gravity and antimatter: The AEgIS experiment at CERN

    Get PDF
    open62siFrom the experimental point of view, very little is known about the gravitational interaction between matter and antimatter. In particular, the Weak Equivalence Principle, which is of paramount importance for the General Relativity, has not yet been directly probed with antimatter. The main goal of the AEgIS experiment at CERN is to perform a direct measurement of the gravitational force on antimatter. The idea is to measure the vertical displacement of a beam of cold antihydrogen atoms, traveling in the gravitational field of the Earth, by the means of a moiré deflectometer. An overview of the physics goals of the experiment, of its apparatus and of the first results is presented.openPagano D.; Aghion S.; Amsler C.; Bonomi G.; Brusa R.S.; Caccia M.; Caravita R.; Castelli F.; Cerchiari G.; Comparat D.; Consolati G.; Demetrio A.; Noto L.D.; Doser M.; Evans A.; Fani M.; Ferragut R.; Fesel J.; Fontana A.; Gerber S.; Giammarchi M.; Gligorova A.; Guatieri F.; Haider S.; Hinterberger A.; Holmestad H.; Kellerbauer A.; Khalidova O.; Krasnicky D.; Lagomarsino V.; Lansonneur P.; Lebrun P.; Malbrunot C.; Mariazzi S.; Marton J.; Matveev V.; Mazzotta Z.; Muller S.R.; Nebbia G.; Nedelec P.; Oberthaler M.; Pacifico N.; Penasa L.; Petracek V.; Prelz F.; Prevedelli M.; Ravelli L.; Rienaecker B.; Robert J.; Rohne O.M.; Rotondi A.; Sandaker H.; Santoro R.; Smestad L.; Sorrentino F.; Testera G.; Tietje I.C.; Widmann E.; Yzombard P.; Zimmer C.; Zmeskal J.; Zurlo N.Pagano, D.; Aghion, S.; Amsler, C.; Bonomi, G.; Brusa, R. S.; Caccia, M.; Caravita, R.; Castelli, F.; Cerchiari, G.; Comparat, D.; Consolati, G.; Demetrio, A.; Noto, L. D.; Doser, M.; Evans, A.; Fani, M.; Ferragut, R.; Fesel, J.; Fontana, A.; Gerber, S.; Giammarchi, M.; Gligorova, A.; Guatieri, F.; Haider, S.; Hinterberger, A.; Holmestad, H.; Kellerbauer, A.; Khalidova, O.; Krasnicky, D.; Lagomarsino, V.; Lansonneur, P.; Lebrun, P.; Malbrunot, C.; Mariazzi, S.; Marton, J.; Matveev, V.; Mazzotta, Z.; Muller, S. R.; Nebbia, G.; Nedelec, P.; Oberthaler, M.; Pacifico, N.; Penasa, L.; Petracek, V.; Prelz, F.; Prevedelli, M.; Ravelli, L.; Rienaecker, B.; Robert, J.; Rohne, O. M.; Rotondi, A.; Sandaker, H.; Santoro, R.; Smestad, L.; Sorrentino, F.; Testera, G.; Tietje, I. C.; Widmann, E.; Yzombard, P.; Zimmer, C.; Zmeskal, J.; Zurlo, N

    Protocol for pulsed antihydrogen production in the AEឥIS apparatus

    Get PDF
    The AEឥIS collaboration’s main goal is to measure the acceleration of antihydrogen (HÂŻ) due to gravity. The experimental scheme is to form a pulsed beam whose vertical deflection is then measured by means of a moirĂ© deflectometer [1]. Creating pulsed HÂŻ is crucial since it allows a velocity measurement of the antiatoms via time of flight (ToF) necessary to deduce the gravitational acceleration ឥ from the vertical deflection Δs. The aim of this article is to outline the experimental protocol leading up to pulsed antihydrogen production in the AEឥIS experiment
    • 

    corecore