Physicists at CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) carried out the transport of ordinary subatomic particles for the first time using a new device to test the method of transporting antimatter to other laboratories. This is necessary to study antimatter more precisely.
Oku.Az is reported with reference to “ScienceAlert”.
Antimatter is the mirror twin of ordinary matter. The main difference between them is that particles and antiparticles have opposite charges. When antimatter particles interact with particles of ordinary matter, or even with air, the two types of particles annihilate each other, releasing energy.
Therefore, antimatter has not existed for a long time and is very difficult to study. At CERN, physicists create antimatter at the Antiproton Decelerator synchrotron, an antiproton decelerator. The antimatter is then transferred to neighboring facilities for study.
According to the scientists, it is necessary to use equipment from other laboratories to better understand the fundamental properties of antiprotons, which are antiparticles of protons.
To store antimatter for a long time, it is necessary to place it in a container with a strong electromagnetic field so that it does not touch the walls. However, antimatter is poorly transported over long distances. The antiparticles may simply destroy the container during the long journey.
That’s why physicists have created a special antimatter trap called BASE-STEP. This trap can store antimatter long enough to transport it over long distances.
BASE-STEP is a portable version of the Antiproton Decelerator with a length of 1.9 m, which means the trap is 5 times smaller than a synchrotron for decelerating antiprotons. This container is designed to protect the anti-particles from shocks and vibrations.
Physicists tested this device while transporting ordinary protons in a truck at CERN. The particles successfully completed the journey, but did not merge, which physicists say means the antiprotons will also be able to continue their transfer to another laboratory.
BASE-STEP consists of a vacuum chamber to store antiparticles, a superconducting magnet to generate electromagnetic fields, a cooling system for the magnet, and batteries to power it all.
Scientists now plan to conduct a test delivery of antimatter particles next year. Physicists want to be able to transport antimatter to any laboratory in Europe, where antiparticles can be studied with 100% precision.
