Articles tagged with Positrons
Physicists from Swansea University have developed a groundbreaking method for producing and trapping antihydrogen, allowing for the record trapping of 15,000 atoms in under seven hours. This breakthrough could help answer the question of why there is such an imbalance between matter and antimatter.
Pratyanik Sau, a senior at the University of Texas at Arlington, won an Outstanding Undergraduate Student Oral Presentation Award for his research on graphene using positrons. The study has implications for designing particle accelerators and fusion reactors.
The H.E.S.S. collaboration has detected the most energetic cosmic-ray electrons and positrons ever observed, with energies up to 40 TeV. This discovery provides new insights into the origin of these particles, suggesting they originate from a few sources in our solar system's vicinity.
Positronium, an exotic atom composed of an electron and a positron, has been cooled to just 1 degree above absolute zero. This achievement could aid in studying the properties of antimatter and potentially unlock secrets of the universe.
Researchers successfully cooled positronium atoms to record-low temperatures of 170 K, significantly reducing their transverse velocity component. This achievement has far-reaching implications for precision spectroscopy and the study of quantum electrodynamics.
Researchers at Tokyo University of Science have discovered a method to generate molecular ions from an ionic crystal by bombarding it with positrons. This breakthrough could lead to new applications in materials science, cancer therapy, and quantum computing.
Researchers at UTA developed a novel spectroscopic tool using auger-mediated positron sticking to measure electronic structure of surface materials selectively. This technique allows for selective measurement of top-layer properties, enabling researchers to understand material's conductivity and behavior.
An international research team has measured neutron form factors with previously unattained precision, filling a blank space on the map. The new data provides a more comprehensive picture of the neutron's size and lifetime, and reveals oscillating patterns in its form factor.
A research team has developed a new concept to study astrophysical processes in the laboratory using laser pincers. By creating an antimatter jet and accelerating it efficiently, scientists can simulate extreme conditions found near neutron stars.
A new study assesses the dynamics of positron acoustic waves in electron-positron-ion plasmas under magnetic fields, finding compressive and rarefactive solitary waves. The team's results provide insight into magnetoplasma behavior in astrophysical contexts, such as solar winds and auroral acceleration regions.
Researchers found that surface mechanical attrition treatment improves magnesium's corrosion resistance, making it suitable for biocompatible implants. The process reduces the rate of decomposition and increases the material's strength.
FACET-II will produce highly energetic electron and positron beams, allowing researchers to understand the universe's fundamental particles and forces, as well as biology and chemistry. The facility will also aid in designing brighter-than-ever X-ray lasers and lead to improvements in existing light sources.
A Japanese team has developed a simple way to glean more detailed information from standard medical imaging scans by detecting the oxygen concentration of tissues throughout patients' bodies. The upgraded PET scanners may lead to more effective cancer treatment by quickly identifying parts of tumors with aggressive cell growth.
A team of scientists used positron beams to study radiation damage in iron films, revealing new insights into defect formation. The research provides critical data on the nature of defects and improves understanding of radiation effects in materials used in nuclear reactors and other extreme environments.
Researchers found that C60 buckyballs emit positronium signals in the same direction as incoming positrons at certain impact energies. This discovery could have implications for astrophysics, materials physics, and pharmaceutical research.
The discovery of a faint gamma-ray 'halo' around Geminga, a nearby pulsar, may hold the solution to a long-standing mystery about the amount of antimatter in our neighborhood. The halo's size and energy suggest that it could be responsible for as much as 20% of high-energy positrons detected by NASA's Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer.
Researchers Marcos Barp and Felipe Arretche developed a model predicting rotational energy loss when positrons collide with molecules like CF4 and methane. The model agreed well with experimental results and could improve PET scanning techniques, providing new insights into matter-antimatter interactions.
Calculations by Allen Mills predict the existence of stable positronium bubbles in liquid helium, which could lead to the creation of gamma-ray lasers. Such lasers have applications in medical imaging, spacecraft propulsion, and cancer treatment.
Researchers from MIPT and Ioffe Institute discover Weyl semimetals as ideal gain media for lasers, eliminating Auger recombination. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient lasers in the visible and infrared range, and even terahertz applications.
Researchers at the University of Bern have successfully demonstrated wave behavior in a single positron interference experiment, proving the quantum-mechanical origin of the observed pattern. The experiment used an innovative Talbot-Lau interferometer and nuclear emulsion detector to achieve micrometric resolution.
Researchers at TUM and Max Planck Institute have developed a magnetic field trap to confine positrons for over a second, a breakthrough in studying electron-positron pair plasmas. This achievement has significant implications for plasma physics and astrophysics, including the study of neutron stars and black holes.
Physicists have revealed new behavior involving magnetic antiparticles in ferromagnetic materials, which could lead to innovative data storage and processing methods. The researchers found that opposite topological charges can behave differently, resulting in the creation of skyrmion-antiskyrmion pairs.
Researchers observed a downward beam of positrons in Hurricane Patricia's eyewall, creating powerful gamma-rays and x-rays. The detection confirms a theoretical prediction made years earlier, suggesting TGFs can be detected via the reverse positron beam using ground-based instruments.
A team of scientists from Lobachevsky University, the Institute of Applied Physics and Chalmers University developed a new software tool called PICADOR for simulating ultra-dense electron-positron plasmas. The simulations showed that the plasma density can exceed 10^26 particles per cubic centimeter under certain conditions.
The DAMPE mission has published its first scientific results, presenting precise measurements of cosmic ray electron flux and a spectral break at ~0.9 TeV. This data may help clarify the connection between the positron anomaly and particle dark matter annihilation or decay.
The HAWC observatory reveals two rapidly spinning stars are unlikely to be the source of an excess of anti-matter particles near Earth. The findings contradict a simple explanation involving nearby collapsed stars called pulsars, leaving room for exotic processes involving dark matter.
Researchers used the HAWC Observatory to study two nearby pulsars, Geminga and PSR B0656+14, which produced high-energy positrons in cosmic rays. The analysis found that while pulsar radiation contributed some positrons, it was not enough to explain the excess.
Researchers analyzing data from the HAWC gamma-ray observatory suggest that excess positrons may originate from dark matter annihilation or decay. The study's findings indicate that positrons generated by nearby pulsars cannot reach Earth, leading to the conclusion of an exotic origin.
A new study using the High-Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) observatory found that two rapidly spinning stars are unlikely to be the source of excess anti-matter particles near Earth. The observations rule out a simple explanation involving nearby collapsed stars, leaving dark matter as a possible culprit.
The European Research Council awards €2.4M to Thomas Sunn Pedersen for creating the world's first matter-antimatter plasma. The plasma is expected to exhibit extraordinary properties and may reveal new discoveries in astrophysics.
A new project aims to develop a device that can accumulate and deliver unprecedentedly intense positron pulses. The goal is to investigate exotic states of matter and mixes of matter and antimatter, potentially opening up new areas of experimental research.
Using the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF), researchers have demonstrated a method to produce polarized positrons from spinning electrons. This technique could enable new research in advanced materials and offer a new avenue for producing polarized positron beams for proposed experiments. The team successfully tran...
Researchers at the Institute of Nuclear Physics in Krakow used antimatter to study liquid crystals. The measurements revealed that positronium forms in nanopores with a diameter of approximately six angstroms, confirming a new model variant. This provides insight into the structure and dynamics of liquid crystals.
The SuperKEKB electron-positron collider has achieved 'First Turns,' a major milestone for the new accelerator. The machine is designed to produce high-intensity particle beams, enabling the Belle-II experiment to probe fundamental theories beyond the Standard Model.
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.
The antihydrogen atom has been found to have a zero charge, identical to that of the hydrogen atom, confirming the symmetry between matter and antimatter. This result is significant as it resolves the long-standing problem of the asymmetry between matter and antimatter in the universe.
Researchers at UTA are using a next-generation positron beam facility to investigate the properties of graphene, a versatile pure carbon material 200 times stronger than steel. The team is analyzing the microscopic interaction of graphene with other materials to translate its exceptional properties into real-life applications.
Researchers at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have developed a new method to accelerate positrons using plasma wakefield acceleration. This breakthrough could lead to the construction of smaller and more efficient electron-positron colliders, which would help unravel the fundamental building blocks of nature.
Researchers at University College London have investigated positronium's behavior in collisions with hydrogen, argon, helium, and carbon dioxide gases. They found a strong preference for positronium to be emitted in the forward direction, particularly when positrons hit the gas at high speed.
The Joint Quantum Institute theorists have made detailed calculations of the dynamics of a positronium Bose-Einstein condensate. They report that above a critical density, collision processes destroy the internal coherence of the gas, posing challenges for the operation of a gamma-ray laser.
A team of astronomers discovered that black hole jets contain ordinary atoms, including nickel and iron, which provide the positive charge. The jets are accelerated to high speeds, with some moving at 66% of the speed of light, revealing new insights into their formation.
Researchers at the BESIII experiment have observed two new charged charmonium-like states, Zc(4020) and a neutral X(3872), in high-energy collisions. These discoveries suggest the existence of a previously unknown family of four-quark objects.
Scientists have detected relativistic antiparticles, specifically positrons, produced in nuclear interactions of accelerated ions in solar flares. This remote detection using microwave and magnetic-field data has significant implications for understanding the basic structure of matter and high-energy processes.
Physicists at the University of California, Riverside, have launched a lab experiment to determine if antimatter behaves differently in gravity than matter. The researchers created positronium, a bound state between a positron and an electron, and measured its deflection due to gravity.
Researchers confirm detection of antimatter positron excess with assistance from Earth's magnetic field, casting doubt on dark matter explanation. The Fermi Gamma-ray Telescope's unique approach utilizes the Earth's magnetic field to separate charged particles, providing valuable insight into the universe.
Physicists at UC Riverside have discovered a new way to create positronium, an exotic atom made up of an electron and its antimatter twin, the positron. This method allows for the production of positronium at almost any temperature, including very low temperatures, making it easier to detect.
Researchers have developed methods to store billions of positrons for hours or more and cool them to low temperatures to study their properties. The largest trap for low-energy positrons is being built, capable of storing trillions of antimatter particles.
Scientists using NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope have detected beams of antimatter produced above thunderstorms, a phenomenon never seen before. The detection is attributed to terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs) associated with lightning and the spacecraft's ability to magnetically connect with distant storms.
The ALPHA collaboration has successfully trapped and stored antihydrogen atoms for nearly two-tenths of a second. By comparing their energy levels to those of ordinary hydrogen, researchers aim to test the symmetry of nature and better understand how antimatter behaves.
A new model proposes that the cosmic ray knee is caused by interactions between nuclei and photons at acceleration sources, explaining both the knee and recent electron/positron excesses. The model suggests a sharp break in the CR spectra at the knee energy due to rapid energy loss.
Researchers identify third type of supernova with unique chemical composition, suggesting a pair of white dwarves are involved. This discovery may explain the prevalence of certain elements in the universe and account for observed concentrations of particles called positrons.
A recent study by UCI astrophysicists refines predictions for the detection of dark matter, suggesting that current models cannot account for excess high-energy positrons. The research leaves room for future experiments to potentially detect dark-matter evidence in the near future.
Scientists from the University of Gothenburg found that a mysterious flux of electrons and positrons originates from supernova remnants, not dark matter. The study shows that a star 15 times more massive than the sun exploded in the Milky Way, creating a shock-wave that accelerated particles.
The Fermi telescope has detected a class of pulsars, probed gamma-ray bursts and watched flaring jets in galaxies billions of light-years away. The data may imply the presence of a nearby object beaming cosmic rays our way.
A giant cloud of antimatter surrounding the galactic center has been traced back to binary star systems containing black holes or neutron stars. The cloud's imbalance matches the distribution of these binaries, suggesting they are churning out most of the antimatter.
Physicists at UCR have created molecular positronium, which could help develop gamma-ray lasers and explain the universe's matter-antimatter imbalance. The research uses silica to trap positronium atoms, allowing them to form molecules that can interact with each other.
Physicists at Max Planck have measured the lifetime of positronium ions six times more precisely than before, finding an average lifespan of almost half a nanosecond. This closely matches predicted values and provides an interesting model system for quantum mechanics.
Researchers at UCR create stable positronium molecules by combining positrons with electrons, paving the way for studying antimatter properties. This breakthrough uses a magnetic bottle to prolong positron life and accumulate millions of atoms, enabling collisions that produce gamma radiation.
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and International Linear Collider (ILC) are two colossal machines being built to study the ultimate building blocks of matter. The LHC, nearing completion in Geneva, will collide protons with unprecedented energy, aiming to answer questions on mass, dark matter, and dimensions.
Researchers create a new test method that detects nanometer-scale holes, free radicals, and cross-linking in paints, allowing for early detection of damage and more efficient development of durable paints. This breakthrough could lead to cost-effective solutions for bridge coatings and other applications.