Proton transport from the antimatter factory of CERN

authored by: M. Leonhardt, D. Schweitzer, F. Abbass, K. K. Anjum, B. Arndt, S. Erlewein, S. Endoh, P. Geissler, T. Imamura, J. I. Jäger, B. M. Latacz, P. Micke, F. Voelksen, H. Yildiz, K. Blaum, J. A. Devlin, Y. Matsuda, C. Ospelkaus, W. Quint, A. Soter, J. Walz, Y. Yamazaki, S. Ulmer, C. Smorra
Abstract: Precision measurements using low-energy antiprotons, exclusively available at the antimatter factory (AMF) of CERN¹, offer stringent tests of charge–parity–time (CPT) invariance, which is a fundamental symmetry in the Standard Model of particle physics². These tests have been realized, for example, in antiprotonic helium³ and antihydrogen⁴. In our cryogenic Penning-trap experiments⁵, we measure the magnetic moments^6,7 and charge-to-mass ratios of protons and antiprotons and now provide the most precise test of CPT invariance in the baryon sector⁸. Our experiments are limited by magnetic field fluctuations imposed by the decelerators in the AMF; therefore, we are advancing the relocation of antiprotons to dedicated precision laboratories. Here we present the successful transport of a trapped proton cloud from the AMF using BASE-STEP⁹—a transportable, superconducting, autonomous and open Penning-trap system that can distribute antiprotons into other experiments. We transferred the trapped protons from our experimental area at the AMF onto a truck and transported them across the Meyrin site of CERN, demonstrating autonomous operation without external power for 4 h and loss-free proton relocation. We thereby confirm the feasibility of transferring particles into low-noise laboratories in the vicinity of the AMF and of using a power generator on the truck¹⁰ to reach laboratories throughout Europe. This marks the potential start of a new era in precision antimatter research, enabling low-noise measurements of antiprotons, the charged antimatter ions H¯+¹¹ and H¯2− (ref. ¹²), and other accelerator-produced ions, such as hydrogen-like lead or uranium ions^13,14.
Organisation(s): Institute of Quantum Optics
External Organisation(s): University Hospital Düsseldorf
Ulmer Fundamental Symmetries Laboratory
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research
Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
CERN
University of Tokyo
Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt PTB
Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Imperial College London
ETH Zurich
Helmholtz-Institut Mainz
Type: Article
Journal: NATURE
Volume: 641
Pages: 871-875
No. of pages: 5
ISSN: 0028-0836
Publication date: 22.05.2025
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: General
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-08926-y (Access: Unknown)

BibTeX

@article{3c0534598b6644cda12fcf1dfb02a7a2,
title = "Proton transport from the antimatter factory of CERN",
abstract = "Precision measurements using low-energy antiprotons, exclusively available at the antimatter factory (AMF) of CERN1, offer stringent tests of charge–parity–time (CPT) invariance, which is a fundamental symmetry in the Standard Model of particle physics2. These tests have been realized, for example, in antiprotonic helium3 and antihydrogen4. In our cryogenic Penning-trap experiments5, we measure the magnetic moments6,7 and charge-to-mass ratios of protons and antiprotons and now provide the most precise test of CPT invariance in the baryon sector8. Our experiments are limited by magnetic field fluctuations imposed by the decelerators in the AMF; therefore, we are advancing the relocation of antiprotons to dedicated precision laboratories. Here we present the successful transport of a trapped proton cloud from the AMF using BASE-STEP9—a transportable, superconducting, autonomous and open Penning-trap system that can distribute antiprotons into other experiments. We transferred the trapped protons from our experimental area at the AMF onto a truck and transported them across the Meyrin site of CERN, demonstrating autonomous operation without external power for 4 h and loss-free proton relocation. We thereby confirm the feasibility of transferring particles into low-noise laboratories in the vicinity of the AMF and of using a power generator on the truck10 to reach laboratories throughout Europe. This marks the potential start of a new era in precision antimatter research, enabling low-noise measurements of antiprotons, the charged antimatter ions H¯+11 and H¯2− (ref. 12), and other accelerator-produced ions, such as hydrogen-like lead or uranium ions13,14.",
author = "M. Leonhardt and D. Schweitzer and F. Abbass and Anjum, {K. K.} and B. Arndt and S. Erlewein and S. Endoh and P. Geissler and T. Imamura and J{\"a}ger, {J. I.} and Latacz, {B. M.} and P. Micke and F. Voelksen and H. Yildiz and K. Blaum and Devlin, {J. A.} and Y. Matsuda and C. Ospelkaus and W. Quint and A. Soter and J. Walz and Y. Yamazaki and S. Ulmer and C. Smorra",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2025.",
year = "2025",
month = may,
day = "22",
doi = "10.1038/s41586-025-08926-y",
language = "English",
volume = "641",
pages = "871--875",
journal = "NATURE",
issn = "0028-0836",
publisher = "Nature Research",
number = "8064",
}