Centrifugal separation of antiprotons and electrons

Phys Rev Lett. 2010 Nov 19;105(21):213002. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.213002. Epub 2010 Nov 16.

Abstract

Centrifugal separation of antiprotons and electrons is observed, the first such demonstration with particles that cannot be laser cooled or optically imaged. The spatial separation takes place during the electron cooling of trapped antiprotons, the only method available to produce cryogenic antiprotons for precision tests of fundamental symmetries and for cold antihydrogen studies. The centrifugal separation suggests a new approach for isolating low energy antiprotons and for producing a controlled mixture of antiprotons and electrons.