Cooling the “matter-antimatter” Positronium
Positronium: An exotic atom composed of an electron and its antiparticle, the positron. This “matter-antimatter” particle exists only up to 0.0000001 second before it annihilates. Studying positronium may revolutionize physics, cancer treatment, and perhaps even space travel. It was challenging to study positronium due to its high speed, and there was no way to trap it. Scientists have now achieved slowing it down using ‘laser cooling’, a technique proposed 36 years ago. To shoot a positron beam at a target surface, where 30% can transform into positronium, without annihilation. Then, a high-intensity laser is directed at the Ps cloud, effectively cooling it down to -100°C. This is a significant milestone in antimatter physics, with numerous potential applications.
Research link:
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.1...
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