Laser cooling and trapping for experiments at the interface of matter and antimatter

Antihydrogen can be produced from antiprotons by charge exchange with positronium atoms (Ps); the bound state of an electron and a positron. It has recently been shown by numerical calculations that the charge exchange reaction cross-section can be surprisingly large, especially for excited states of Ps. However, the system is complex and requires further work. Here, we aim to combine cold atomic ions and Ps in one apparatus in an experimental study of the charge conjugate process, i.e. creating cold neutral atoms via charge exchange from Ps. The project will investigate suitable geometries for combining Ps production, laser excitation and ion trapping, which will be integrated into the positron beamline. The project will yield laser cooling and trapping geometries generally suitable for antihydrogen synthesis and manipulation, thus creating platforms for making use of quantum technologies such as atomic sensors in antihydrogen physics.