News & Views
CERN scientists capture antimatter
Nov 18 2010
While this may not sound long in human terms, it is long enough to allow particles of antimatter to be studied without being annihilated by coming into contact with normal matter.
In order to achieve this, the scientists create complicated magnetic fields, separating the antimatter from the surrounding matter and preventing annihilation from taking place.
Jeffrey Hangst of Aarhus University, Denmark, is a spokesman for the ALPHA collaboration working on the project at CERN.
He says: "Nature ruled out antimatter. It is thus very rewarding - and a bit overwhelming - to look at the ALPHA device and know that it contains stable, neutral atoms of antimatter."
The antiproton decelerator at CERN was immortalised in popular fiction when Dan Brown cited it as an inspiration behind his storyline for Angels and Demons.
Digital Edition
Lab Asia 31.4 August 2024
August 2024
Chromatography Articles - HPLC gradient validation using non-invasive flowmeters Mass Spectrometry & Spectroscopy Articles - MS detection of Alzheimer’s blood-based biomarkers Labo...
View all digital editions
Events
Sep 04 2024 Chiba, Tokyo, Japan
Sep 04 2024 University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
Sep 11 2024 Bangkok, Thailand
Sep 11 2024 Singapore
Sep 11 2024 Bangkok, Thailand