Deceleration of antiprotons from MeV to keV energies

Trapping of antiprotons for high precision measurements at the Low Energy Antiproton Ring (LEAR/CERN) requires the deceleration of the antiproton beam from typically 5.8 MeV energy down to 10 keV for final capture in standard Penning traps. Two methods, the degradation of the beam in thin foils and the deceleration of the beam in an inverse cyclotron are investigated so far. The foil technique was successfully demonstrated with trapping efficiencies up to a few 10⁻⁴ and is now routinely used in the high precision measurement of the antiprotonproton mass ratio. The degradation foil method is compared with the deceleration technique using an inverse cyclotron tested also at LEAR.     

A surprising method for polarising antiprotons

We propose a method for polarising antiprotons in a storage ring by means of a polarised positron beam moving parallel to the antiprotons. If the relative velocity is adjusted to v/c ≈ 0.002 the cross-section for spin-flip is as large as about 2 ^. 10¹³ barn as shown by new QED calculations of the triple spin cross-sections. Two possibilities for providing a positron source with sufficient flux density are presented. A polarised positron beam with a polarisation of 0.70 and a flux density of approximately 1.5 ^. 10¹⁰ /(mm² s) appears to be feasible by means of a radioactive ¹¹C dc-source. A more involved proposal is the production of polarised positrons by pair production with circularly polarised photons. It yields a polarisation of 0.76 and requires the injection into a small storage ring. Such polariser sources can be used at low (100MeV) as well as at high (1GeV) energy storage rings providing a time of about one hour for polarisation build-up of about 10¹⁰ antiprotons to a polarisation of about 0.18. A comparison with other proposals show a gain in the figure of merit by a factor of about ten.     

Extremely cold antiprotons for antihydrogen production

The possibility to produce, trap and study antihydrogen atoms rests upon the recent availability of extremely cold antiprotons in a Penning trap. Over the last five years, our TRAP Collaboration has slowed, cooled and stored antiprotons at energies 10¹⁰ lower than was previously possible. The storage time exceeds 3.4 months despite the extremely low energy, which corresponds to 4.2 K in temperature units. The first example of measurements which become possible with extremely cold antiprotons is a comparison of the antiproton inertial masses which shows they are the same to a fractional accuracy of 4×10⁻⁸. (This is 1000 times more accurate than previous comparisons and large additional increases in accuracy are anticipated.) To increase the number of trapped antiprotons available for antihydrogen production, we have demonstrated that we can accumulate or “stack” antiprotons cooled from successive pulsed injections into our trap.     

Low energy antiprotons in the cosmic rays: A new upper limit

Kinematics predicts the severe suppression of low-energy (<1 GeV) secondary antiprotons in the Galactic cosmic rays. Thus the observation several years ago of a finite flux of low-energy antiprotons could not be explained with existing models of cosmic ray propagation, which led to a plethora of theoretical speculation. We have recently flown a balloon-borne instrument to measure the energy spectrum of cosmic-ray , and have found no antiprotons in the energy interval 200–640 MeV (corrected to the top of the atmosphere). This yields an upper limit to the ratio of 5.5×10⁻⁵ (90% confidence level), well below and hence contradicting the earlier result.     

Transverse energy distribution of channeled particles in a thin crystal

In this paper we consider a chain of approximate equations of motion describing the effect of planar channeling of protons and antiprotons in transverse energy space. The original nonlinear stochastic equation of motion is linearized with the help of expansion in a series with respect to a small parameter, the role of which is played by the fluctuation of the transverse force. We have done a numerical study of the transverse energy redistribution of the proton and antiproton flux in the (110) planar channel of a thin silicon crystal. We show that the transverse energy distribution function is the same for protons and antiprotons when the angles of incidence are larger than the two critical channeling angles. Surgut State University. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 9, pp. 9–12, September, 1997.     

Prospects for electron cooling of antiprotons at low energies

The motivation of using electron cooling in low-energy antiproton storage rings and the expected cooling performance are discussed. Results obtained recently, during the first operation of electron cooling in LEAR at CERN with a 50 MeV proton beam, are summarized, concerning in particular the equilibrium beam properties, the recombination between cooling electrons and cooled protons, and the deceleartion of acceleration of protons by friction in the electron beam. Conclusions are drawn for the formation of antihydrogen with the cooled antiproton beam, and for the deceleration of antiprotons to energies close to or below 1 MeV.     

ATRAP antihydrogen experiments and update

Antihydrogen (Hbar) was first produced at CERN in 1995. Over the past decade our ATRAP collaboration has made massive progress toward our goal of producing large numbers of cold Hbar atoms that will be captured in a magnetic gradient trap for precise comparison between the atomic spectra of matter and antimatter. The AD at CERN provides bunches of 3 × 10⁷ low energy antiprotons approximately every 90 s. We capture and cool to 4 K, 0.1% of these in a cryogenic Penning trap. By stacking many bunches we are able to do experiments with 3 × 10⁵ Antiprotons. Approximately 100 positrons (e+)/s from a 22 Na radioactive source are captured and cooled in the trap, with 5 × 10⁶ available experiments. We have developed two ways to make Hbar from these cold ingredients, namely three-body collisions, and two-stage Rydberg charge exchange. We have also developed techniques to measure the excited-state distribution of the Hbar and measure their velocity. A new apparatus is being used this year that includes a e+ accumulator built at York University providing many more e+. The new antiproton annihilation detector provides spatial information of annihilations. Windows allow lasers to enter the trap for spectroscopic measurements and for laser cooling of the Hbar. Possibly the most exciting inclusion in this new apparatus is the inclusion of a neutral particle trap which may, for the first time, capture the Hbar and lead to the first atomic spectrum from antimatter.     

Build-up of F and M color centers in KCl single crystals under combined electron and proton irradiation

The F and M color-center build-up kinetics in KCl crystals under combined irradiation with electrons of energy 15 and 100 keV and 100-keV protons have been studied in the flux range of 10¹³–10¹⁵ cm⁻² and at a flux density of 3×10¹¹ cm⁻² s⁻¹. It is shown that consecutive irradiation with electrons and protons produces results not obtainable under electron or proton irradiation alone. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 2015–2018 (November 1998)     

The search for antimatter in cosmic rays

The search for antimatter in the universe is a page in the history of the Ioffe Physicotechnical Institute (IPTI). Experiments on spacecraft and high-altitude balloons, begun in the 1960s, yielded information on to the presence or absence of antimatter stars or galaxies according to evidence arising in explosive processes in these objects. Antiprotons with energies of 2–5 GeV in galactic cosmic rays were observed at the end of the 1970s in balloon experiments by the Cosmic Spectrometry Laboratory at the IPTI. These studies were done using a magnetic spectrometer at altitudes with a residual pressure of 10 g/cm² with a threshold geomagnetic rigidity of 3 GV. High-latitude experiments in the 1980s, yielding the first measurements of the flux of galactic antiprotons with energies of 0.2–2 GeV, gave some indication of the mechanism by which they are generated. The measured ratios of the fluxes of antiprotons and protons in the cosmic rays are 2.4 _−1.3 ^+2.4 ×10⁻⁴ and 6 ₋₅ ⁺¹⁴ ×10⁻⁵ at energies of 2–5 and 0.2–2 GeV, respectively. Subsequent balloon-borne experiments employing magnetic spectrometers by groups from the USA and Japan have confirmed the results obtained by the IPTI. Experimental and theoretical work on the search for antiparticles in cosmic rays is summarized and the astrophysical consequences of this research are discussed. Experimental data on the detection of antiparticles in galactic cosmic rays indicate that there are no objects made of antimatter within the local group of galaxies. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 69, 99–103 (September 1999)     

The space environment monitor aboard FY-2 satellite

The space environment monitor (SEM) aboard FY-2 satellite consists of the high energy particle detector (HEPD) and the solar X-ray flux detector (SXFD). The SEM can provide real-time monitoring of flare and solar proton event for its operation at geostationary orbit and is also the first Chinese space system for monitoring and alerting solar proton event. During the 23rd solar maximum cycle, almost all the solar proton events that took place in this period are monitored and some of them are predicted successfully by analyzing the characteristics of X-ray flare monitored by the SEM. Some basic variation characteristics of particle at geostationary orbit are found such as day-night periodic variation of particle flux, the electron flux with energy >1.4 MeV in the scope from 10 to 200/cm2 s sr and the proton flux with energy >1.1 MeV in the scope from 600 to 8000/cm·s·sr during the time with no magnetic storm and solar eruption.     

Accelerator plans at TRIUMF

A recently completed Project Definition Study has proposed a network of accelerators to take the existing 500 MeV 150 μA proton beam at TRIUMF to 30 GeV. This facility would be capable of providing beams of kaons, antiprotons and other hadrons of intensities 100 times greater than those presently available. In addition, large numbers of low energy muons should be available and this facility is potentially the most powerful muon source planned for the future. The proposed facilities are described and the potential for future muon beams reported.     

Emission of light nuclei (<Emphasis Type="Italic">p,d, t</Emphasis>, α) in the process of annihilation of slow antiprotons in nuclear emulsion

The annihilation of slow (∼7 MeV) antiprotons in nuclear emulsion has been studied. The yields and energy spectra of p, d, t, and α particles in the evaporation region have been measured. The shape of the spectra of p, d, and t is in agreement with the Maxwell distribution and the excitation energy of a nucleus is consistent with a theoretical estimate for evaporation from the equilibrium state. The probability of the absorption of antiprotons inside the nucleus estimated from the multiplicity of h particles is ɛ = (2.0 ± 0.6) × 10⁻². The relative d/p yield coincides with a similar ratio appearing in the capture of slow π⁻ mesons by nuclei in the nuclear emulsion. The yields of t and α particles in the process of the annihilation of antiprotons are much higher than those in a similar process for pions. To identify g particles (0.29 < β < 0.70), energy losses dE/dx on ionization and multiple scattering have been measured. In this velocity region, the yields of p, d, t, and pions have been observed. The ratios (n _d /n _p ) _g , (n _d /n _p ) _b , and n _d /n _p measured in the capture of π⁻ mesons are almost the same. In this velocity range (g particles), α particles have not been observed.     

Low-energy μ− beam from the PSI anticyclotron

Negative muons of 28.6 Mev/c initial momentum were decelerated in and extracted from the PSI anticyclotron equipped with a Mylar foil in the median plane as moderator to provide a continuous μ⁻ beam of 3–30 keV energy. This technique can also be used to post-decelerate LEAR antiprotons in a continuous or pulsed mode to keV energies with an efficiency up to 10–20%.     

Electrostatic deceleration of the LEAR antiprotons

A high voltage electrostatic column is proposed for an efficient deceleration of the 60 MeV/c LEAR antiprotons down to an energy where they will be trapped and cooled. The column, made of standard NEC tubes connects the LEAR beam line to an SF6 isolated terminal in which the energized (but disconnected) superconducting solenoid and associated components are placed. The charging chain ramps the terminal voltage to its final value (slightly less than 2 MV) during the few seconds preceding the LEAR beam injection and returns the voltage to a preselected low value within the following few seconds. The decelerated antiprotons have less than 10 keV energy spread and can be optimally trapped, cooled and extracted into a high quality low energy beam.     

β-delayed proton decays and spin assignments for 133Sm and 149Yb

The proton-rich isotope ¹³³Sm was produced via the fusion evaporation reaction ⁴⁰Ca + ⁹⁶Ru. Its β-delayed proton decay was studied by p-γ coincidence in combination with a He-jet tape transport system, and half-lives, proton energy spectra, γ-transitions following the proton emission, as well as β-delayed proton branching ratios to the low-lying states in the grand-daughter nucleus were determined. Comparing the observed β-delayed proton branching ratios with statistical model calculations, the best agreement is found assuming that only one level with the spin of 3/2 in ¹³³Sm decays or two levels with the spins of 1/2 and 5/2 decay with similar half-lives. The configuration-constrained nuclear potential energy surfaces of ¹³³Sm were calculated using the Woods-Saxon-Strutinsky method, which suggests a 1/2^- ground state and a 5/2⁺ isomer with an excitation energy of 120keV. Therefore, the simple (EC+β⁺) decay scheme of ¹³³Sm in Eur. Phys. J. A 11, 277 (2001) has been revised. In addition, our previous experimental data on the β-delayed proton decay of ¹⁴⁹Yb reported in Eur. Phys. J. A 12, 1 (2001) was also analyzed using the same method. The spin-parity of ¹⁴⁹Yb is suggested to be 1/2^-.     

A search for heavy leptons in cosmic radiation underground

An experiment to search massive long-lived, weakly interacting particles (leptons) in cosmic radiation has been conducted at Kolar Gold Fields at a depth of 7.6 hg cm⁻² (1 hg cm⁻²=100 g cm⁻²) below surface. The apparatus was senstive to sub-relativistic (velocity<0.75 c) charged leptons of mass greater than that of a proton and life times greater than a microsecond. The method consists of selecting charged particles using a scintillator counter telescope and vetoing relativistic particles (velocity >0.75 c) by using a water Čerenkov detector. The range of the particle is observed in arrays of neon flash tubes interspersed with iron absorbers. During 3000 hours of observation 28 events were recorded satisfying the trigger and event selection criteria. Bulk of these events were interpreted as due to recoil protons (low energy) from the inelastic scattering of high energy muons in the overhead absorber. The remaining events were interpreted as either atmospheric stopping protons or stopping muons that failed to generate a Čerenkov signal. The observed events are thus consistent with the background and no heavy leptons were seen. From our observations an upper limit of 2.12×10⁻⁷ (with 90% confidence level) is set on the ratio of the flux of heavy leptons to that of all muons at this depth.     

First measurement of β-decay properties of the proton drip-line nucleus 60Ga

By using the fusion-evaporation reaction ²⁸Si(³⁶Ar,p3n) and spectroscopy of β-delayed γ-rays and charged particles on mass-separated sources, β-decay properties of the neutron-deficient isotope ⁶⁰Ga were studied for the first time. The half-life of ⁶⁰Ga was determined to be 70(15) ms, and, based on βγγ coincidences, the isobaric-analogue state in ⁶⁰Zn was identified at 4851.9(7) keV. A semiempirical proton separation energy value of 40(70) keV was deduced for ⁶⁰Ga. The experimental results on half-life, mass excess, proton separation energy, and structure of the ⁶⁰Zn daughter states are discussed in comparison with various model predictions, including large-scale shell model calculations. Received: 4 September 2001 / Accepted: 12 November 2001     

Cold and stable antimatter for fundamental physics

The field of cold antimatter physics has rapidly developed in the last 20 years, overlapping with the period of the Antiproton Decelerator (AD) at CERN. The central subjects are CPT symmetry tests and Weak Equivalence Principle (WEP) tests. Various groundbreaking techniques have been developed and are still in progress such as to cool antiprotons and positrons down to extremely low temperature, to manipulate antihydrogen atoms, to construct extremely high-precision Penning traps, etc. The precisions of the antiproton and proton magnetic moments have improved by six orders of magnitude, and also laser spectroscopy of antihydrogen has been realized and reached a relative precision of 2 × 10⁻¹² during the AD time. Antiprotonic helium laser spectroscopy, which started during the Low Energy Antiproton Ring (LEAR) time, has reached a relative precision of 8 × 10⁻¹⁰. Three collaborations joined the WEP tests inventing various unique approaches. An additional new post-decelerator, Extra Low ENergy Antiproton ring (ELENA), has been constructed and will be ready in 2021, which will provide 10–100 times more cold antiprotons to each experiment. A new era of the cold antimatter physics will emerge soon including the transport of antiprotons to other facilities.     

Investigation of proton channeling using nuclear-reaction resonances

To investigate orientation effects, an approach based on the measurements of γ-ray yields following the excitation of “narrow" isolated resonances in the reactions occurring on the nuclei of interstitial impurity atoms, that occupy certain positions in a crystal, has been proposed. The carbon atoms were shown to be located in octahedral interstitial sites of the Re-0.4 at. % ¹³C monocrystalline solution. The proton flux distribution in the (0001) channel was investigated via the 1.7476 MeV resonance of the ¹³C(p,γ)¹⁴N reaction. Some particular qualities of the reaction yield were found to be dependent upon the proton energy. The method of measurement of the electronic stopping power of channeled particles has been deduced. The γ-ray yield of the resonance reactions induced by the channeled protons was shown to be dependent on the amplitude of the thermal vibrations of carbon atoms.     

Cooling antiprotons in an ion trap

The measurement of the inertial mass of the antiproton and proposed antihydrogen formation experiments require antiprotons stored in ion traps, cooled to very low (4K) temperatures. Techniques to cool the trapped antiprotons from energies around 1 keV are discussed. Coupling to an external circuit produces cooling times of order 10³ s, which may be reduced somewhat with negative feedback. Adiabatic reduction of the trapping potential produces significant cooling when the particle energies are substantially less than the well depth. Most promising is cooling via energy-transferring collisions to a cooled cloud of electrons simultaneously trapped with the antiprotons. Electron cooling times are of order 1 s, and strongly depend on electron number and density.