arXiv:1103.2150

Antihydrogen Gravitational Quantum States

A. Yu. Voronin, Piotr Froelich, Валерий Викторович Несвижевский

Published Mar 10, 2011• 0 citations

Abstract

We present a theoretical study of the motion of the antihydrogen atom ($\bar{H}$) in the Earth's gravitational field above a material surface. We predict that $\bar{H}$ atom, falling in the Earth's gravitational field above a material surface, would settle in long-living quantum states. We point out a method of measuring the difference in energy of $\bar{H}$ in such states that allow us to apply spectroscopy of gravitational levels based on atom-interferometric principles. We analyze a general feasibility to perform experiments of this kind. We point out that such experiments provide a method of measuring the gravitational force ($Mg$) acting on $\bar{H}$ and they might be of interest in a context of testing the Weak Equivalence Principle for antimatter.

DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.1103.2150

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Gravitational quantum states of Antihydrogen

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arXiv:1103.2150

Antihydrogen Gravitational Quantum States

A. Yu. Voronin, Piotr Froelich, Валерий Викторович Несвижевский

Published Mar 10, 2011• 0 citations

arXiv HTML PDF

Abstract

We present a theoretical study of the motion of the antihydrogen atom (

\bar{H}

) in the Earth's gravitational field above a material surface. We predict that

\bar{H}

atom, falling in the Earth's gravitational field above a material surface, would settle in long-living quantum states. We point out a method of measuring the difference in energy of

\bar{H}

in such states that allow us to apply spectroscopy of gravitational levels based on atom-interferometric principles. We analyze a general feasibility to perform experiments of this kind. We point out that such experiments provide a method of measuring the gravitational force (

Mg

) acting on

\bar{H}

and they might be of interest in a context of testing the Weak Equivalence Principle for antimatter.

DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.1103.2150

Related papers

Gravitational quantum states of Antihydrogen

A. Yu. Voronin, Piotr Froelich, Валерий Викторович Несвижевский

We present a theoretical study of the motion of the antihydrogen atom ( $\overline{\mathrm{H}}$ ) in the gravitational field of Earth above a material surface. We predict that the $\overline{\mathrm{H}}$ atom, falling in the gravitational field of Earth above a material surface, would settle into long-lived quantum states. We point out a method of measuring the difference in the energy of $\overline{\mathrm{H}}$ in such states. The method allows for spectroscopy of gravitational levels based on atom-interferometric principles. We analyze the general feasibility of performing experiments of this kind. We point out that such experiments provide a method of measuring the gravitational force ( $\mathit{Mg}$ ) acting on $\overline{\mathrm{H}}$ and that they might be of interest in the context of testing the weak equivalence principle for antimatter.We present a theoretical study of the motion of the antihydrogen atom ($\overline{\mathrm{H}}$) in the gravitational field of Earth above a material surface. We predict that the $\overline{\mathrm{H}}$ atom, falling in the gravitational field of Earth above a material surface, would settle into long-lived quantum states. We point out a method of measuring the difference in the energy of $\overline{\mathrm{H}}$ in such states. The method allows for spectroscopy of gravitational levels based on atom-interferometric principles. We analyze the general feasibility of performing experiments of this kind. We point out that such experiments provide a method of measuring the gravitational force ($\mathit{Mg}$) acting on $\overline{\mathrm{H}}$ and that they might be of interest in the context of testing the weak equivalence principle for antimatter.

Physical Review AMar 8, 201154 citations

Quantum ballistic experiment on antihydrogen fall

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Prospects for Studies of the Free Fall and Gravitational Quantum States of Antimatter

Gabriel Dufour, D. B. Cassidy, P. Crivelli +6 more

Different experiments are ongoing to measure the effect of gravity on cold neutral antimatter atoms such as positronium, muonium, and antihydrogen. Among those, the project GBAR at CERN aims to measure precisely the gravitational fall of ultracold antihydrogen atoms. In the ultracold regime, the interaction of antihydrogen atoms with a surface is governed by the phenomenon of quantum reflection which results in bouncing of antihydrogen atoms on matter surfaces. This allows the application of a filtering scheme to increase the precision of the free fall measurement. In the ultimate limit of smallest vertical velocities, antihydrogen atoms are settled in gravitational quantum states in close analogy to ultracold neutrons (UCNs). Positronium is another neutral system involving antimatter for which free fall under gravity is currently being investigated at UCL. Building on the experimental techniques under development for the free fall measurement, gravitational quantum states could also be observed in positronium. In this contribution, we report on the status of the ongoing experiments and discuss the prospects of observing gravitational quantum states of antimatter and their implications.Different experiments are ongoing to measure the effect of gravity on cold neutral antimatter atoms such as positronium, muonium, and antihydrogen. Among those, the project GBAR at CERN aims to measure precisely the gravitational fall of ultracold antihydrogen atoms. In the ultracold regime, the interaction of antihydrogen atoms with a surface is governed by the phenomenon of quantum reflection which results in bouncing of antihydrogen atoms on matter surfaces. This allows the application of a filtering scheme to increase the precision of the free fall measurement. In the ultimate limit of smallest vertical velocities, antihydrogen atoms are settled in gravitational quantum states in close analogy to ultracold neutrons (UCNs). Positronium is another neutral system involving antimatter for which free fall under gravity is currently being investigated at UCL. Building on the experimental techniques under development for the free fall measurement, gravitational quantum states could also be observed in positronium. In this contribution, we report on the status of the ongoing experiments and discuss the prospects of observing gravitational quantum states of antimatter and their implications.

arXiv:1409.0705Advances in High Energy PhysicsJan 1, 201520 citations

Prospects for Studies of the Free Fall and Gravitational Quantum States of Antimatter

Gabriel Dufour, Cassidy, DB, P. Crivelli +6 more

Different experiments are ongoing to measure the effect of gravity on cold neutral antimatter atoms such as positronium, muonium and antihydrogen. Among those, the project GBAR in CERN aims to measure precisely the gravitational fall of ultracold antihydrogen atoms. In the ultracold regime, the interaction of antihydrogen atoms with a surface is governed by the phenomenon of quantum reflection which results in bouncing of antihydrogen atoms on matter surfaces. This allows the application of a filtering scheme to increase the precision of the free fall measurement. In the ultimate limit of smallest vertical velocities, antihydrogen atoms are settled in gravitational quantum states in close analogy to ultracold neutrons (UCNs). Positronium is another neutral system involving antimatter for which free fall under gravity is currently being investigated at UCL. Building on the experimental techniques under development for the free fall measurement, gravitational quantum states could also be observed in positronium. In this contribution, we review the status of the ongoing experiments and discuss the prospects of observing gravitational quantum states of antimatter and their implications.Different experiments are ongoing to measure the effect of gravity on cold neutral antimatter atoms such as positronium, muonium and antihydrogen. Among those, the project GBAR in CERN aims to measure precisely the gravitational fall of ultracold antihydrogen atoms. In the ultracold regime, the interaction of antihydrogen atoms with a surface is governed by the phenomenon of quantum reflection which results in bouncing of antihydrogen atoms on matter surfaces. This allows the application of a filtering scheme to increase the precision of the free fall measurement. In the ultimate limit of smallest vertical velocities, antihydrogen atoms are settled in gravitational quantum states in close analogy to ultracold neutrons (UCNs). Positronium is another neutral system involving antimatter for which free fall under gravity is currently being investigated at UCL. Building on the experimental techniques under development for the free fall measurement, gravitational quantum states could also be observed in positronium. In this contribution, we review the status of the ongoing experiments and discuss the prospects of observing gravitational quantum states of antimatter and their implications.

Jan 1, 201511 citations

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Alexei Yu. Voronin, Валерий Викторович Несвижевский, Serge Reynaud

We predict the existence of antihydrogen atom long-living quasistationary states, localized near a curved material surface due to quantum reflection from the van der Waals--Casimir potential. Such states are an atom-wave analog of the whispering-gallery (WG) modes, known in acoustics, optics, and neutron physics. We argue that the WG states of antihydrogen atoms could be regarded as a close analog of recently predicted gravitational states of antihydrogen where the centrifugal potential plays the role of the linear gravitational potential. We point out a method for the precision measurement of anti-atom-matter interactions, based on the study of interference of WG antihydrogen states.We predict the existence of antihydrogen atom long-living quasistationary states, localized near a curved material surface due to quantum reflection from the van der Waals--Casimir potential. Such states are an atom-wave analog of the whispering-gallery (WG) modes, known in acoustics, optics, and neutron physics. We argue that the WG states of antihydrogen atoms could be regarded as a close analog of recently predicted gravitational states of antihydrogen where the centrifugal potential plays the role of the linear gravitational potential. We point out a method for the precision measurement of anti-atom-matter interactions, based on the study of interference of WG antihydrogen states.

arXiv:1110.3472Physical Review AJan 18, 201220 citations

Interaction of ultracold antihydrogen with a conducting wall

Alexei Yu. Voronin, Piotr Froelich, Bernard Zygelman

We investigate the interaction of ultracold antihydrogen with a conducting surface, focusing on the phenomenon of quantum reflection. We calculate the reflection probability as a function of incident atom energy. We find that, for ground-state $\overline{\mathrm{H}}$ atoms (with $T<{10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K})$, the probability of reflection is $R\ensuremath{\simeq}1\ensuremath{-}kb$, where $k$ is the momentum of the atom and $b=2174.0\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{a}.\mathrm{u}.$ is a constant determined solely by the van der Waals--Casimir tail of the atom-wall interaction. We show that quantum reflection, which suppresses the direct contact of ultracold atoms with the surface, allows for the possibility of confinement and storage of sufficiently cold antihydrogen atoms. We calculate the lifetime of $\overline{\mathrm{H}}$ atoms enclosed in between solid walls. We develop a theory of $\overline{\mathrm{H}}$ in a waveguide and propose some applications, notably the measurement of retardation corrections in the long-range component of the antiatom-wall potential. We demonstrate the existence of quantized states for antihydrogen atoms falling onto conducting surface in the gravitational field of Earth. We calculate the lifetime of ultracold $\overline{\mathrm{H}}$ in its lowest gravitational state and obtain $\ensuremath{\tau}=(Mgb∕2\ensuremath{\Elzxh}{)}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\ensuremath{\simeq}0.1\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{s}$, where $Mg$ is a gravitational force acting on the antiatom. We propose that measurement of this lifetime may provide a new test for the gravitational properties of antimatter.We investigate the interaction of ultracold antihydrogen with a conducting surface, focusing on the phenomenon of quantum reflection. We calculate the reflection probability as a function of incident atom energy. We find that, for ground-state $\overline{\mathrm{H}}$ atoms (with $T<{10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K})$, the probability of reflection is $R\ensuremath{\simeq}1\ensuremath{-}kb$, where $k$ is the momentum of the atom and $b=2174.0\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{a}.\mathrm{u}.$ is a constant determined solely by the van der Waals--Casimir tail of the atom-wall interaction. We show that quantum reflection, which suppresses the direct contact of ultracold atoms with the surface, allows for the possibility of confinement and storage of sufficiently cold antihydrogen atoms. We calculate the lifetime of $\overline{\mathrm{H}}$ atoms enclosed in between solid walls. We develop a theory of $\overline{\mathrm{H}}$ in a waveguide and propose some applications, notably the measurement of retardation corrections in the long-range component of the antiatom-wall potential. We demonstrate the existence of quantized states for antihydrogen atoms falling onto conducting surface in the gravitational field of Earth. We calculate the lifetime of ultracold $\overline{\mathrm{H}}$ in its lowest gravitational state and obtain $\ensuremath{\tau}=(Mgb∕2\ensuremath{\Elzxh}{)}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\ensuremath{\simeq}0.1\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{s}$, where $Mg$ is a gravitational force acting on the antiatom. We propose that measurement of this lifetime may provide a new test for the gravitational properties of antimatter.

arXiv:physics/0612050Physical Review ADec 29, 200576 citations

We present a theoretical study of the motion of the antihydrogen atom (

\bar{H}

) in the Earth's gravitational field above a material surface. We predict that

\bar{H}

atom, falling in the Earth's gravitational field above a material surface, would settle in long-living quantum states. We point out a method of measuring the difference in energy of

\bar{H}

Mg

) acting on

\bar{H}

and they might be of interest in a context of testing the Weak Equivalence Principle for antimatter.

We present a theoretical study of the motion of the antihydrogen atom (

\overline{\mathrm{H}}

) in the gravitational field of Earth above a material surface. We predict that the

\overline{\mathrm{H}}

atom, falling in the gravitational field of Earth above a material surface, would settle into long-lived quantum states. We point out a method of measuring the difference in the energy of

\overline{\mathrm{H}}

in such states. The method allows for spectroscopy of gravitational levels based on atom-interferometric principles. We analyze the general feasibility of performing experiments of this kind. We point out that such experiments provide a method of measuring the gravitational force (

\mathit{Mg}

) acting on

\overline{\mathrm{H}}

and that they might be of interest in the context of testing the weak equivalence principle for antimatter.

\overline{\mathrm{H}}

atoms (with $T<{10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K})$, the probability of reflection is $R\ensuremath{\simeq}1\ensuremath{-}kb$, where

k

is the momentum of the atom and

b=2174.0\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{a}.\mathrm{u}.

is a constant determined solely by the van der Waals--Casimir tail of the atom-wall interaction. We show that quantum reflection, which suppresses the direct contact of ultracold atoms with the surface, allows for the possibility of confinement and storage of sufficiently cold antihydrogen atoms. We calculate the lifetime of

\overline{\mathrm{H}}

atoms enclosed in between solid walls. We develop a theory of

\overline{\mathrm{H}}

in a waveguide and propose some applications, notably the measurement of retardation corrections in the long-range component of the antiatom-wall potential. We demonstrate the existence of quantized states for antihydrogen atoms falling onto conducting surface in the gravitational field of Earth. We calculate the lifetime of ultracold

\overline{\mathrm{H}}

in its lowest gravitational state and obtain $\ensuremath{\tau}=(Mgb∕2\ensuremath{\Elzxh}{)}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\ensuremath{\simeq}0.1\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{s}$, where

Mg

is a gravitational force acting on the antiatom. We propose that measurement of this lifetime may provide a new test for the gravitational properties of antimatter.