Swedish researcher leads the development of a new antimatter tool for nuclear physics

Can antimatter reveal what lies at the very edge of an atomic nucleus?

Researchers at CERN’s AEgIS experiment have piloted a new method that uses antiprotons, the antimatter counterparts of protons, to probe the outer regions of atomic nuclei. By capturing and analysing highly charged ions created during antiproton annihilation, scientists can gain new insights into antimatter interactions with matter and nuclear structure.

The team successfully demonstrated the core methodology using helium and argon, taking advantage of recent advances at CERN’s Antimatter Factory, where antiprotons can be produced, slowed down and trapped for detailed studies.

New opportunities for nuclear physics

The new technique could complement existing methods for studying atomic nuclei and help researchers better understand both fundamental physics and extreme environments such as neutron stars.

“Our study establishes a foundation for capturing and directly studying the highly charged ions left behind after cold antiproton annihilations for a wider range of nuclei,” says Fredrik Parnefjord Gustafsson.