CERN isolate anti-matter

Though only for around a tenth of a second, scientists at the research institute on the Franco-Swiss border have been successful in trapping around 38 atoms of anti-hydrogen in probably the most significant scientific break through of the 21st century so far.

The atoms of anti-matter were captured when around 10 million positrons at a temperature of -230 degrees Celsius and 700 million anti-positrons at around -70 degrees Celsius were fired around CERN’s 27km long particle accelerator. Smashing into each, a small number of the resulting anti-hydrogen atoms were moving slow enough due to their temperature to be registered by sensors before being annihilated as they came into contact with conventional matter.

The result marks a landmark moment for science. The eventual aim of the project is to slow enough anti-hydrogen atoms to a speed where they can undergo laser spectroscopy to determine their structure and make-up. Scientists at CERN hope to achieve this aim later in the year when new methods of atom cooling are trialled. The results from this could alter our fundamental understanding of physics and the structure of the universe.

The announcement provides some good news for the research institute which has faced a variety of problems in recent years. In 2007, miscalculations caused part of the £2bn particle accelerator to become damaged, causing setbacks to the project. CERN has also faced media speculation that its activities could cause black holes to occur.  

The recent successes in safely isolating anti-hydrogen have largely silenced critics. Yet scientists remain a very long way from achieving the dreams of science fiction fans of using anti-matter for practical applications, chief among them as a form of propulsion for air of spacecraft. The event nevertheless represents the first step into a significant new field of scientific discovery.