The BASE collaboration, based at CERN’s Antimatter Factory (AMF), has already achieved astonishing feats in precision particle physics. They managed a remarkable precision of 1.5 parts per billion at the same time measuring the magnetic moments of protons and antiprotons. This innovative study was conducted by master’s student Marcel Leonhardt, who worked under the guidance of Professor Dr. Stefan Ulmer. A recent article in Nature recounts the amazing results of what they accomplished. Overcoming this challenge, the collaboration accomplished the loss-free transfer of anti-hydrogen atoms between experimental sites, a significant milestone in the pursuit of answerable questions in Antimatter.
With extreme precision, the BASE experiment determines the properties of protons and antiprotons. Its aim is to find any discrepancy between their magnetic moments or charge-to-mass ratios. The BASE collaboration is still extending the envelope of what’s possible in this field. Using this approach, they reach astounding relative uncertainty of only 16 parts per trillion.
Innovative Techniques and Successful Transport
The BASE team celebrated an incredible achievement in fall 2024. For the first time, they successfully used a Penning trap to extract a proton cloud from the Antimatter Factory. With this novel technique, fast antiprotons were successfully decelerated and cooled in the trap. Consequently, it quickly opened the floodgates for other experiments. The proton cloud was then moved by truck through CERN’s main campus, showing the very real application of their research in practice.
This novel approach is a testimony that moving protons is possible. Even more importantly, it holds large and exciting implications for future experiments that will allow scientists to measure these exotic particles outside of CERN’s accelerator environment.
“We were able to demonstrate the loss-free relocation of protons, sustain autonomous operation without external power for four hours and continue to operate the trap loss-free afterwards. An important step that shows that particles can thus be relocated over longer distances in normal road traffic.”
Professor Dr. Stefan Ulmer, founder and spokesperson of the BASE collaboration, underscored the necessity for meticulous precision in their measurements:
High Precision Measurements
Research pursued by the BASE collaboration is important as it aims to answer fundamental questions regarding antimatter and its properties. Ulmer further explained the challenges faced when conducting measurements close to CERN’s accelerators due to magnetic disturbances:
“We need an extremely high level of measuring accuracy to be able to identify possible differences in the magnetic moment or charge-to-mass ratio.”
This ignited the dream to beam antiprotons produced at CERN. The end goal? A new, extremely well-shielded lab in Düsseldorf, where scientists can make the most precise measurements.
“It is virtually impossible to achieve this close to CERN’s accelerators, though, as the magnetic disturbance that the accelerators there generate is simply too high.”
Dr. Christian Smorra, the BASE-STEP Project Leader and senior scientist, stated that mobile power generators could enhance transport range:
Future Applications and Vision
The possibilities are endless! Our ambitions are to one day deliver such exotic particles and molecules such as highly-charged ions originating from GSI in Darmstadt, or even charged antimatter ions. Ulmer highlighted the implications of this research:
“Mobile power generators can be used to increase the transport range of the system at will, enabling longer transport routes and times. Our vision is to be able to reach laboratories across Europe in the future.”
The potential applications are vast, with hopes of transporting other exotic particles and molecules, such as highly-charged ions from GSI in Darmstadt or charged antimatter ions. Ulmer highlighted the implications of this research:
“If we also manage this, then it will mark the potential rise of a new era in antimatter precision research. We could then perform antiproton spectroscopy in the most suitable laboratories—so, also at HHU in the future.”