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Lasers are used to control the production of highly excited positronium atoms (Ps*). The laser light excites Cs atoms to Rydberg states that have a large cross section for resonant charge-exchange collisions with cold trapped positrons. For each trial with 30 million trapped positrons, more than 700 000 of the created Ps* have trajectories near the axis of the apparatus, and are detected using Stark ionization. This number of Ps* is 500 times higher than realized in an earlier proof-of-principle demonstration (2004 Phys. Lett. B 597 257). A second charge exchange of these near-axis Ps* with trapped antiprotons could be used to produce cold antihydrogen, and this antihydrogen production is expected to be increased by a similar factor.

Ten-nanosecond pulses of photoelectrons liberated by intense UV laser pulses from a thin gold layer are captured into a single-component plasma that is ideally suited to cool antiprotons ( p ¯ ) for antihydrogen ( H ¯ ) production. Up to a billion electrons are accumulated using a series of laser pulses, more than are needed for efficient p ¯ cooling in the large traps now being used for loading p ¯ for H ¯ production. The method is demonstrated within an enclosed vacuum space that is entirely at 4 K, and is thus compatible with the exceptional cryogenic vacuum that is desirable for the long-term storage of antihydrogen. The pitfalls of other electron accumulation methods are entirely avoided, including the particle heating and declining efficiency of field emission point loading, and the heat load and contamination of thermionic emission methods.

We discuss design considerations and construction of a home-built electro-optic phase modulator (EOM) that can be used for locking a laser to an atomic transition. The EOM is designed to operate at a resonant frequency of ≈20 MHz and imposes a phase modulation on a laser beam. The phase-modulated light is sent through a reference cell containing a dilute gas of rubidium atoms. When the laser is scanned over an atomic resonance, the absorption of light through the cell can be detected and mixed down to DC to produce a dispersion shaped “error” signal. The error signal can be used to lock the laser to the atomic resonance. We also describe tests of the basic properties of the resonant circuit. The Q of the circuit is measured to be 10, resulting in 60% efficiency for the first-order sidebands at RF drive powers of 0.7 W. Applications include the spectroscopy of laser-cooled atoms.PACS Nos.: 01.50.Pa, 39.25.+k 32.80.Pj, 42.62.Fi

We describe an inexpensive lock-in amplifier that can be built using discrete off-the-shelf RF components and home-built analog circuits. This lock-in has been used in a feedback loop to lock the frequency of a laser to an atomic transition. The frequency stability was tested by trapping rubidium atoms. The feedback loop involves obtaining a modulated saturated absorption signal from a vapor cell using an acousto-optic modulator to modulate the laser frequency. The absorption signal is sent to the lock-in to generate an error signal, proportional to the first derivative of the absorption, which is fed back to the laser to complete the feedback loop. We also demonstrate a simplified optical setup for viewing the saturated absorption spectrum. In this case, the signal consists of narrow saturated absorption spectra riding on top of a Doppler-broadened pedestal. We show that it is possible to greatly reduce the effect of this background and lock the laser to the atomic resonance by modifying the home-built lock-in to generate an error signal proportional to the third derivative of the absorption. The results of this work can be adapted for advanced undergraduate laboratory work.PACS Nos.: 01.50Pa, 07.50.–e, 42.62Fi, 42.60Fc

We have used an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) to impose a frequency-modulated signal on an incident laser beam. The incident laser beam is focussed into the AOM where it undergoes Bragg diffraction and is then retro-reflected. The diffracted beam is also retro-reflected so that it is diffracted again by the AOM and overlaps the incident beam. The overlapped beams are frequency shifted with respect to each other. These features allow us to detect the frequency-modulated signal with high signal-to-noise ratio using heterodyne detection. Since the optical setup is simple and can be made very compact, this device may be ideal for certain forms of high-speed, free-space optical communication. We demonstrate a 1 MHz data transmission rate in the Bragg regime. We measured the acceptance angle of the device and find that it is limited only by the divergence of the focussed laser beam and the divergence of the acoustic waves in the AOM crystal. We have also studied the range of acoustic frequencies and drive power of the AOM, for which the retro-reflected beam can be detected with adequate signal to noise. PACS Nos.: 42.60.–V, 42.62.Cf, 42.62.Fi, 42.79.Sz, 42.79.Hp

We describe how a lock-in amplifier can be used in a feedback loop to lock the frequency of a laser to an atomic transition in 85Rb. A simple physical explanation is presented to describe the shape of the feedback signal generated by the "lock in" and the dependence of this signal on the phase of the reference signal. We also present a mathematical model of the feedback signal. Using the output of the lock in as feedback, we show that the laser frequency can be stabilized to a few MHz. The experiment is relatively simple to set up and could easily be adapted as an undergraduate laboratory experiment. PACS No.: 42.60Mi

We consider the ballistic expansion of a cloud of trapped atoms falling under the influence of gravity. Using a simple coordinate transformation, we derive an analytical expression for the time-of-flight signal. The properties of the signal can be used to infer the initial temperature of the cloud. We first assume a point size cloud with an isotropic velocity distribution to explain the physical basis of the calculation. The treatment is then generalized to include a finite-size cloud with an anisotropic velocity distribution, and an exact result for the signal is derived. The properties of the signal are discussed, and an intuitive picture is presented to explain how initial conditions determine the features of the signal.

The signature of trapped antihydrogen ($\overline{\mathrm{H}}$) atoms is the annihilation signal detected when the magnetic trap that confines the atoms is suddenly switched off. This signal would be difficult to distinguish from the annihilation signal of any trapped $\overline{p}$ that is released when the magnetic trap is switched off. This work deduces the large cyclotron energy ($g$137 eV) required for magnetic trapping of $\overline{p}$, considers the possibility that such $\overline{p}$ are produced, and explores the effectiveness of an electric field applied to clear charged particles from the trapping volume before $\overline{\mathrm{H}}$ detection. No mechanisms are found that can give a $\overline{p}$ such a large cyclotron energy and allow it to mimic an $\overline{\mathrm{H}}$ annihilation. The method used to release $\overline{\mathrm{H}}$ atoms from their magnetic trap without removing the magnetic field gradient that could possibly confine $\overline{p}$ with a high cyclotron energy is also discussed.

\DeclareRobustCommand{\pbar}{\HepAntiParticle{p}{}{}\xspace} \DeclareRobustCommand{\p}{\HepParticle{p}{}{}\xspace} \DeclareRobustCommand{\mup}{$\mu_{p}${}{}\xspace} \DeclareRobustCommand{\mupbar}{$\mu_{\pbar}${}{}\xspace} \DeclareRobustCommand{\muN}{$\mu_N${}{}\xspace For the first time a single trapped \pbar is used to measure the \pbar magnetic moment ${\bm\mu}_{\pbar}$. The moment ${\bm\mu}_{\pbar} = \mu_{\pbar} {\bm S}/(\hbar/2)$ is given in terms of its spin ${\bm S}$ and the nuclear magneton (\muN) by $\mu_{\pbar}/\mu_N = -2.792\,845 \pm 0.000\,012$. The 4.4 parts per million (ppm) uncertainty is 680 times smaller than previously realized. Comparing to the proton moment measured using the same method and trap electrodes gives $\mu_{\pbar}/\mu_p = -1.000\,000 \pm 0.000\,005$ to 5 ppm, for a proton moment ${\bm{\mu}}_{p} = \mu_{p} {\bm S}/(\hbar/2)$, consistent with the prediction of the CPT theorem., Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1201.3038

Four billion positrons (e+) are accumulated in a Penning–Ioffe trap apparatus at 1.2 K and

Adiabatic cooling is shown to be a simple and effective method to cool many charged particles in a trap to very low temperatures. Up to 3 x 10(6) (p) over bar are cooled to 3.5 K-10(3) times more cold (p) over bar and a 3 times lower (p) over bar temperature than previously reported. A second cooling method cools (p) over bar plasmas via the synchrotron radiation of embedded (p) over bar (with many fewer (p) over bar than (p) over bar) in preparation for adiabatic cooling. No (p) over bar are lost during either process-a significant advantage for rare particles.

Extremely precise tests of fundamental particle symmetries should be possible via laser spectroscopy of trapped antihydrogen ( H ¯ ) atoms. H ¯ atoms that can be trapped must have an energy in temperature units that is below 0.5 K—the energy depth of the deepest magnetic traps that can currently be constructed with high currents and superconducting technology. The number of atoms in a Boltzmann distribution with energies lower than this trap depth depends sharply upon the temperature of the thermal distribution. For example, ten times more atoms with energies low enough to be trapped are in a thermal distribution at a temperature of 1.2 K than for a temperature of 4.2 K. To date, H ¯ atoms have only been produced within traps whose electrode temperature is 4.2 K or higher. A lower temperature apparatus is desirable if usable numbers of atoms that can be trapped are to eventually be produced. This report is about the pumped helium apparatus that cooled the trap electrodes of an H ¯ apparatus to 1.2 K for the first time. Significant apparatus challenges include the need to cool a 0.8 m stack of 37 trap electrodes separated by only a mm from the substantial mass of a 4.2 K Ioffe trap and the substantial mass of a 4.2 K solenoid. Access to the interior of the cold electrodes must be maintained for antiprotons, positrons, electrons and lasers.

We have studied the effects of spontaneous emission (SE) on a single-state time domain atom interferometer (AI) that uses trapped Rb atoms. The AI uses two standing wave pulses separated by time $T$ to produce an echo signal at time $2T$ due to interference between momentum states. We find that SE influences both the shape of the echo signal and its periodic time-dependent amplitude in a manner consistent with theoretical predictions. The results show that the time-dependent signal from the AI is related to the effective radiative decay rate of the excited state. We also present results that test theoretical predictions for several properties of the echo formation such as the variation in momentum transfer due to the change in the angle between the traveling wave components of the excitation pulses, strength of the atom-field interaction, and the effect of spatial profile of the excitation beams. These studies are important for realizing precision measurements of the atomic fine structure constant and gravity using this interferometer.

Slow antihydrogen (H) is produced within a Penning trap that is located within a quadrupole Ioffe trap, the latter intended to ultimately confine extremely cold, ground-state H[over ] atoms. Observed H[over ] atoms in this configuration resolve a debate about whether positrons and antiprotons can be brought together to form atoms within the divergent magnetic fields of a quadrupole Ioffe trap. The number of detected H atoms actually increases when a 400 mK Ioffe trap is turned on.

Antiprotons ((p) over bar) remain confined in a Penning trap, in sufficient numbers to form antihydrogen ((H) over bar) atoms via charge exchange, when the radial field of a quadrupole Ioffe trap is added. This first demonstration with (p) over bar suggests that quadrupole Ioffe traps can be superimposed upon (p) over bar and e(+) traps to attempt the capture of (H) over bar atoms as they form, contrary to conclusions of previous analyses.

We have used trapped ${}^{85}\mathrm{Rb}$ atoms to demonstrate an atom interferometric measurement of atomic recoil in the frequency domain. The measurement uses echo techniques to generate a Ramsey fringe pattern. The pattern exhibits recoil components consistent with theoretical predictions. We find the measurement to be insensitive to magnetic field gradients and discuss the prospects for a precision measurement of the recoil frequency.

We have used an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) to impose an amplitude-modulation signal on an incident laser beam. The amplitude-modulated beam is retroreflected through the AOM. This beam is diffracted again by the AOM so that it overlaps the incident beam and is frequency shifted with respect to it. The return beam is also orthogonally polarized with respect to the incident beam by a wave plate. These features allow us to detect the amplitude-modulated signal with high signal to noise ratio using heterodyne detection. Since the optical setup is simple and can be made very compact, this device may be ideal for certain forms of high-speed, free-space optical communication. We have used a 60 MHz AOM to demonstrate a 1 MHz communication rate, and studied the performance limitations of this device. Finally, we discuss the realization of a communication rate approaching 1 GHz using this method.

We demonstrate that an electro-optic phase modulator (EOM) can be used as a constituent of a corner-cube-based modulated high-speed retro-reflector. We performed experiments to investigate the efficiency of the phase modulation produced by an EOM as a function of the angle of a laser beam incident on it. Our experiments demonstrate that the field of view of the EOM is determined by its dimensions and the diameter of the laser beam. This suggests that the device may be suitable for applications involving high-speed (GHz), free-space communication. In these applications, the retro-reflector can be mounted on a moving platform such as a satellite. We find that it is possible to detect the retro-reflected signal with an adequate signal-to-noise ratio using heterodyne detection. We also discuss some practical considerations necessary for the implementation of such a device. PACS Nos.: 42.60.–V, 42.62.Cf, 42.62.Fi, 42.79.Sz, 42.79.Hp

The CPT theorem predicts the same properties of matter and antimatter, however, in the nearby Universe, we observe a huge imbalance of matter and antimatter. Therefore, it is intriguing to measure the properties of particles and antiparticles in order to contribute to an explanation of this phenomena. In this article, we will describe the experimental efforts of the ATRAP Collaboration in order to test the CPT theorem using antihydrogen atoms.

Laser-controlled charge exchange is a promising method for producing cold antihydrogen. Caesium atoms in Rydberg states collide with positrons and create positronium. These positronium atoms then interact with antiprotons, forming antihydrogen. Las er excitation of the caesium atoms is essential to increase the cross section of the charge-exchange collisions. This method was demonstrated in 2004 by the ATRAP collaboration by using an available copper vapour laser. For a second generation of charge-e xchange experiments we have designed a new semiconductor laser system that features several improvements compared to the copper vapour laser. We describe this new laser system and show the results from the excitation of caesium atoms to Rydberg states wit hin the strong magnetic fields in the ATRAP apparatus.

Positrons accumulated in a room-temperature buffer-gas-cooled positron accumulator are efficiently transferred into a superconducting solenoid which houses the ATRAP cryogenic Penning trap used in antihydrogen research. The positrons are guided along a 9 m long magnetic guide that connects the central field lines of the 0.15 T field in the positron accumulator to the central magnetic field lines of the superconducting solenoid. Seventy independently controllable electromagnets are required to overcome the fringing field of the large-bore superconducting solenoid. The guide includes both a 15° upward bend and a 105° downward bend to account for the orthogonal orientation of the positron accumulator with respect to the cryogenic Penning trap. Low-energy positrons ejected from the accumulator follow the magnetic field lines within the guide and are transferred into the superconducting solenoid with nearly 100% efficiency. A 7 m long 5 cm diameter stainless-steel tube and a 20 mm long, 1.5 mm diameter cryogenic pumping restriction ensure that the 10−2 mbar pressure in the accumulator is isolated well from the extreme vacuum required in the Penning trap to allow for long antimatter storage times.

We report a measurement of the 5P3/2 excited-state lifetime using two-pulse photon echoes in Rb vapor. The measurement is precise to ∼1% and agrees with the best measurement of atomic lifetime in Rb. The results suggest that a measurement precise to ∼0.25% is possible through additional data acquisition and study of systematic effects. The experiment relies on short optical pulses generated from a cw laser using acousto-optic modulators. The excitation pulses are on resonance with the F=3-->F′=4 transition in Rb85 or the F=2-->F′=3 transition in Rb87. The resulting photon echo signal is detected using a heterodyne detection technique. The excited-state lifetime is determined by measuring the exponential decay of the echo intensity as a function of the time between the excitation pulses. We also present a study of the echo intensity as a function of excitation pulse area and compare the results to simulations based on optical Bloch equations. The simulations include the effects of spontaneous emission as well as spatial and temporal variations of the intensities of excitation pulses.

We have studied the temperature scaling laws for the conditions under which a cloud of trapped ^85Rb atoms in the sigma+/sigma- configuration makes the transition from the temperature-limited regime to the multiple-scattering regime. Our experimental technique for measuring temperature relies on measuring the ballistic expansion of the cloud after turning off the confining forces and imaging the cloud size as a function of time with two CCD cameras. In the transition regime, the temperature T is shown to depend on the number of atoms N and the peak density n as (T-T_0) proportional N^1/3 and as (T-T_0) proportional n^2/3, in a manner consistent with theoretical predictions. Here T_0 is defined as the equilibrium temperature of a low-density optical molasses. In the multiple-scattering regime we find that T proportional Omega^2/(delta Gamma), where Omega and delta are the Rabi frequency and the detuning of the trapping laser, respectively, and Gamma is the natural linewidth of the cycling transition. We have also measured the ratio of temperatures along the axial and radial directions of the magnetic field gradient coils and find that the temperature is isotropic only if the intensities of the three orthogonal trapping beams are equal, and that the ratio is generally independent of trapping laser intensity and magnetic field gradient. Finally we demonstrate a measurement of the gravitational acceleration precise to approximately 0.1% by tracking the center of the cloud during ballistic expansion.