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An experimental limit on the charge of antihydrogen

Author

Listed:
  • C. Amole

    (York University)

  • M. D. Ashkezari

    (Simon Fraser University)

  • M. Baquero-Ruiz

    (University of California at Berkeley)

  • W. Bertsche

    (School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester
    The Cockcroft Institute, Daresbury Laboratory)

  • E. Butler

    (Centre for Cold Matter, Imperial College
    CERN)

  • A. Capra

    (York University)

  • C. L. Cesar

    (Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro)

  • M. Charlton

    (College of Science, Swansea University)

  • S. Eriksson

    (College of Science, Swansea University)

  • J. Fajans

    (University of California at Berkeley
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • T. Friesen

    (University of Calgary)

  • M. C. Fujiwara

    (TRIUMF, 4004 Wesbrook Mall)

  • D. R. Gill

    (TRIUMF, 4004 Wesbrook Mall)

  • A. Gutierrez

    (University of British Columbia)

  • J. S. Hangst

    (CERN
    Aarhus University)

  • W. N. Hardy

    (University of British Columbia
    Canadian Institute of Advanced Research)

  • M. E. Hayden

    (Simon Fraser University)

  • C. A. Isaac

    (College of Science, Swansea University)

  • S. Jonsell

    (Stockholm University)

  • L. Kurchaninov

    (TRIUMF, 4004 Wesbrook Mall)

  • A. Little

    (University of California at Berkeley)

  • N. Madsen

    (College of Science, Swansea University)

  • J. T. K. McKenna

    (University of Liverpool)

  • S. Menary

    (York University)

  • S. C. Napoli

    (College of Science, Swansea University)

  • P. Nolan

    (University of Liverpool)

  • K. Olchanski

    (TRIUMF, 4004 Wesbrook Mall)

  • A. Olin

    (TRIUMF, 4004 Wesbrook Mall)

  • A. Povilus

    (University of California at Berkeley)

  • P. Pusa

    (University of Liverpool)

  • C.Ø. Rasmussen

    (Aarhus University)

  • F. Robicheaux

    (Purdue University)

  • E. Sarid

    (NRCN-Nuclear Research Center Negev)

  • D. M. Silveira

    (Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro)

  • C. So

    (University of California at Berkeley)

  • T. D. Tharp

    (University of California at Berkeley)

  • R. I. Thompson

    (University of Calgary)

  • D. P. van der Werf

    (College of Science, Swansea University)

  • Z. Vendeiro

    (University of California at Berkeley)

  • J. S. Wurtele

    (University of California at Berkeley
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • A. I. Zhmoginov

    (University of California at Berkeley
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • A. E. Charman

    (University of California at Berkeley)

Abstract

The properties of antihydrogen are expected to be identical to those of hydrogen, and any differences would constitute a profound challenge to the fundamental theories of physics. The most commonly discussed antiatom-based tests of these theories are searches for antihydrogen-hydrogen spectral differences (tests of CPT (charge-parity-time) invariance) or gravitational differences (tests of the weak equivalence principle). Here we, the ALPHA Collaboration, report a different and somewhat unusual test of CPT and of quantum anomaly cancellation. A retrospective analysis of the influence of electric fields on antihydrogen atoms released from the ALPHA trap finds a mean axial deflection of 4.1±3.4 mm for an average axial electric field of 0.51 V mm−1. Combined with extensive numerical modelling, this measurement leads to a bound on the charge Qe of antihydrogen of Q=(−1.3±1.1±0.4) × 10−8. Here, e is the unit charge, and the errors are from statistics and systematic effects.

Suggested Citation

  • C. Amole & M. D. Ashkezari & M. Baquero-Ruiz & W. Bertsche & E. Butler & A. Capra & C. L. Cesar & M. Charlton & S. Eriksson & J. Fajans & T. Friesen & M. C. Fujiwara & D. R. Gill & A. Gutierrez & J. S, 2014. "An experimental limit on the charge of antihydrogen," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms4955
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4955
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