For the first time, CERN researchers have examined an antimatter particle held in a quantum superposition—a state where its properties remain undecided.
Although the quantum behavior of regular matter has been thoroughly explored and applied in qubits for quantum computing, this discovery has implications far beyond technology, potentially shedding light on why the universe exists at all.
Scientists Isolate Antiproton with Electromagnetic Traps
The scientists trapped an antiproton—the antimatter version of a proton—using electromagnetic fields, shielding it from environmental disturbances that could disrupt its fragile quantum state.
Normally, scientists can’t transport antimatter far from where they create it because contact with regular matter instantly destroys it.
“This is the first-ever antimatter qubit,” said Stefan Ulmer, a physicist with CERN’s BASE collaboration. “Crucially, it will enable BASE to measure antiproton moments in future experiments with precision improved by a factor of 10 to 100.”
Future experiments could uncover more distinctions between matter and antimatter, potentially solving the mystery of why the universe survived an “antimatter apocalypse” that, under current physics models, should have wiped out all matter billions of years ago.
In theory, matter and antimatter should be identical except for having opposite charges. If that were true, the Big Bang would have produced equal amounts of both, leading them to annihilate each other and leaving the universe empty.
Existence Points to Hidden Differences Between Matter and Antimatter
The fact that we exist suggests that physics treats matter and antimatter differently in some other way. While experiments have found hints of this asymmetry, the differences detected so far are too small to explain the imbalance.
At CERN, the BASE experiment compares proton and antiproton spin states under identical conditions to find the missing piece. Spin, an inherent property of subatomic particles, makes them act like tiny magnets.
In earlier runs, BASE measured the magnetic moment of the antiproton with a precision of 1.5 parts per billion—yet even at that accuracy, it still matched the magnetic moment of an ordinary proton.
A key challenge is quantum states’ extreme sensitivity to interference, making it hard to keep antiprotons in superposition for study.
BASE Upgrades Set Record for Antimatter Quantum State Duration
After upgrades, BASE can better shield particles, keeping them isolated in a quantum blur for a record 50 seconds. Researchers expect to extend this time even further.
Normally, scientists can’t transport antimatter far from where they create it because contact with regular matter instantly destroys it. To address this, CERN is testing BASE-STEP, a system for safely moving antimatter to facilities that reduce or eliminate interference.
Such ultra-quiet conditions could provide the key to answering one of physics’ deepest mysteries.
CERN physicist Barbara Latacz said the new Penning trap system—supplied with antiprotons via BASE-STEP—could soon achieve spin coherence times up to ten times longer, transforming baryonic antimatter research.
Read the original article on: Sciencealert
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