The ATHENA antihydrogen apparatus

• DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2003.09.052
• Publication Date: 2003-11-23T00:13:00Z
• Authors: M. Amoretti; C. Amsler; G. Bonomi; A. Bouchta; P.D. Bowe; C. Carraro; M. Charlton; M.J.T. Collier; M. Doser; V. Filippini; K.S. Fine; A. Fontana; M.C. Fujiwara; R. Funakoshi; P. Genova; A. Glauser; D. Grögler; J. Hangst; R.S. Hayano; H. Higaki; M.H. Holzscheiter; W. Joffrain; L.V. Jørgensen; V. Lagomarsino; R. Landua; C. Lenz Cesar; D. Lindelöf; E. Lodi-Rizzini; M. Macri; N. Madsen; D. Manuzio; G. Manuzio; M. Marchesotti; P. Montagna; H. Pruys; C. Regenfus; P. Riedler; J. Rochet; A. Rotondi; G. Rouleau; G. Testera; D. P. van der Werf; A. Variola; T.L. Watson; T. Yamazaki; Y. Yamazaki
• Keywords: Antihydrogen; Antiproton; Penning trap; Trap (plumbing)

Abstract The ATHENA apparatus that recently produced and detected the first cold antihydrogen atoms is described. Its main features, which are described herein, are: an external positron accumulator, making it possible to accumulate large numbers of positrons; a separate antiproton catching trap, optimizing the catching, cooling and handling of antiprotons; a unique high resolution antihydrogen annihilation detector, allowing an clear determination that antihydrogen has been produced; an open, modular design making variations in the experimental approach possible and a “nested” Penning trap situated in a cryogenic, 3T magnetic field environment used for the mixing of the antiprotons and positrons.