ALPHA Antiproton Catching Trap

Lead Research Organisation: University of Manchester
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy

Abstract

One of the grand challenges in physics is understanding the fundamental differences between matter and antimatter. Current theories suggest that matter and antimatter should have been created in equal quantities during the formation of the universal; the predominance of matter in the observable universe starkly calls this conclusion into question. The ALPHA collaboration seeks to address these questions by making precise measurements, such as spectroscopy, on trapped antihydrogen atoms, and comparing these against similarly precise measurements in hydrogen. Measurements of these low-energy phenomena allow for a unique and complementary probe of fundamental physics from Charge, Parity, Time symmetry to gravity, as compared to traditional high-energy experiments.
ALPHA, located at CERN, is pursuing the first precision measurements of these exotic anti-atoms. In addition to achieving this goal through optical spectroscopy of the antihydrogen, ALPHA is planning on expanding to the first direct gravitational measurements of any sort on antimatter. Central to the ALPHA experimental programme is the Antiproton Catching Trap, a device which capture, cools, and prepares antiprotons for use in the ambitious activities.
We are seeking a PhD student to work on topics related to the Catching Trap during this exciting growth period. The proposed project is the experimental investigation of novel plasma techniques to enable long-term accumulation and extraction of antiprotons. This work involves developing plasma manipulation techniques and diagnostics in order to achieve novel and reliable on-demand antiprotons. The project will also include design studies and measurements for enabling a new generation of antimatter gravitation experiments as well as integration with ELENA, CERN's next-generation antiproton decelerator. The student is expected to participate in the ongoing experimental programme on trapped antihydrogen.

Publications

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Studentship Projects

Project Reference Relationship Related To Start End Student Name
ST/N504178/1 30/09/2015 30/03/2021
1686188 Studentship ST/N504178/1 30/09/2015 31/03/2019 Mark Johnson
 
Description Long Term Attachment (LTA) Grant
Amount £13,727 (GBP)
Organisation Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 05/2016 
End 06/2018
 
Description CERN Tours of the Antiproton Decelerator Experiments 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact As part of CERN's tour programme, I have given several small groups tours of the experimental areas around the Antiproton Decelerator facility. These tours serve to promote CERN's scientific work to the public, generate interest in STEM subjects for school-level and undergraduate students, and occasionally communicate our research to university staff and administrators. Before starting to give tours, I had a special training session to learn the official tour routes, and how to deal with emergencies during a tour.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Co-Supervisor - CERN Summer Student Programme 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact Each year, CERN (The European Organisation for Nuclear Research) invites approximately 500 undergraduate students from around the world to work on short-term reearch projects at the laboratory in Geneva, Switzerland. In 2018 I acted as co-supervisor for two summer students, working with another researcher at Manchester University to advise both students and shape the direction of their reseach projects.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://home.cern/summer-student-programme
 
Description I'm A Scientist... Get Me Out of Here (November 2019) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact I was selected to take part in the "I'm a Scientist... Get Me Out of Here!" outreach event, running from November 11th - 22nd 2019. The event uses lively and interactive online chat sessions to connect secondary school students across the UK with real life scientists and researchers. Throughout the event, students submit questions to the scientists, and eventually vote for their favourite scientist to win £500 of funding for further outreach activities. In this event, I was chosen as the winner of the STFC nuclear zone, after spending two weeks discussing particle physics with students of all abilities. The event as a whole reached over 4300 students in total.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018,2019
URL https://imascientist.org.uk/
 
Description Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2016 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact This event was a week-long exhibition at the Royal Society in London. Exhibits from a wide range of scientific projects were set up to communicate their research to visiting school groups and the general public. I spent three days at the event, working on an exhibit showcasing CERN's antimatter research with members of the ALPHA and LHCb experiments. This yearly event draws large audiences and has been successful in promoting scientific research to the UK public.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2018/summer-science-exhibition/
 
Description School talk on STEM careers (Liverpool) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact I gave an hour-long talk promoting careers involving STEM subjects to a group of A-level physics students at my former secondary school (The Liverpool Blue Coat School in Liverpool, UK). The school has a strong history of having students go on to study STEM subjects at university, and these yearly talks from former students help to show how exciting and useful these subjects can be. The aim of the talk was to spark interest and questions about studying sciences at university.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016