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Down goes antimatter! Gravity's effect on matter's elusive twin is revealed

Researchers confirmed that antimatter falls under the influence of gravity, ruling out gravitational repulsion as a cause for its absence in the universe. The study used an antihydrogen experiment to observe individual atoms taking a downward path, providing a definitive answer to long-standing questions about antimatter's behavior.

SourceU.S. National Science Foundation·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 27, 2023

Frozen-planet states in exotic helium atoms

Physicists have mapped the energy levels of exotic helium atoms and discovered a 'frozen planet' state configuration where an antiproton is trapped. This study provides insights into the stability of such configurations, which may be more amenable to experimental research.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateMar 18, 2020

Anti-hydrogen origin revealed by collision simulation

A new study published in Springer reveals that numerical calculation approaches developed to simulate collisions can be used to explain antihydrogen formation. The researchers found excellent agreement between two different methods for hydrogen, but identified room for improvement for helium.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateJan 26, 2016

Antimatter not so different after all

Researchers at Rice University measured the attractive force between antiprotons, revealing a fundamental new way to understand antimatter interactions. The scattering length and effective range of interaction were found to be nearly equivalent to those between protons.

SourceRice University·JournalNature·DateNov 4, 2015

Protons and antiprotons appear to be true mirror images

The RIKEN collaboration has confirmed proton-antiproton symmetry through a high-precision experiment testing CPT invariance. The results show that charge-to-mass ratios are identical within 69 parts per trillion, constraining violations of the standard model and informing future research on antimatter and dark matter.

SourceRIKEN·JournalNature·DateAug 12, 2015

Zeroing in on the proton's magnetic moment

Scientists from RIKEN have directly measured the proton's magnetic moment with record precision, resolving one of physics' deepest mysteries. This achievement could help explain the matter-antimatter asymmetry in the universe.

SourceRIKEN·JournalNature·DateMay 28, 2014

Measuring the magnetism of antimatter

A team of Harvard scientists has successfully measured the magnetic charge of single particles of matter and antimatter, achieving a significant increase in accuracy for antiprotons. This breakthrough could provide new insights into the nature of matter and help address fundamental questions about the universe.

SourceHarvard University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMar 25, 2013

Antihydrogen trapped for first time

Researchers have achieved a significant milestone by trapping 38 antihydrogen atoms for more than one-tenth of a second using the ALPHA experiment. This achievement marks a crucial step towards studying the properties of antihydrogen, which could provide insights into the universe's mysterious lack of antimatter.

Antimatter atoms produced and trapped at CERN

The ALPHA experiment at CERN has successfully produced and trapped atoms of antihydrogen, a significant step forward in understanding the difference between matter and antimatter. This development allows for new ways of making detailed measurements of antihydrogen, which will enable scientists to compare matter and antimatter.

SourceCERN·JournalNature·DateNov 17, 2010

Protons in the war on cancer

Research on proton therapy, including proton CT, aims to improve effectiveness and reduce costs. Protons deposit more energy inside cancerous tissue than neighboring healthy tissue, making them a targeted treatment option. New technologies, such as laser-driven acceleration, are being explored to make proton therapy more accessible.

Antiprotons 4 times more effective than protons for cell irradiation

The ACE experiment found that antiprotons are four times more effective at terminating live cells than protons, with the potential to reduce damage to healthy tissue. Researchers plan further tests to assess the effectiveness of antiprotons for cancer therapy and ensure minimal harm to surrounding tissues.

SourceCERN·JournalRadiotherapy and Oncology·DateOct 31, 2006