https://phys.org/news/2025-11-physicists-antihydrogen-breakthrough-cern-technique.html Phys.org Topics * Week's top * Latest news * Unread news * Subscribe [ ] Science X Account [ ] [ ] Sign In Sign in with Forget Password? Not a member? Sign up Learn more * Nanotechnology * Physics * Earth * Astronomy & Space * Chemistry * Biology * Other Sciences * Medical Xpress Medicine * Tech Xplore Technology * * share this! * 145 * Tweet * Share * Email 1. Home 2. Physics 3. General Physics * * * --------------------------------------------------------------------- November 18, 2025 The GIST Physicists drive antihydrogen breakthrough at CERN with record trapping technique by Ffion White, Swansea University edited by Lisa Lock, reviewed by Robert Egan [llock] Lisa Lock scientific editor Meet our editorial team Behind our editorial process [Robert] Robert Egan associate editor Meet our editorial team Behind our editorial process Editors' notes This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread Physicists drive antihydrogen breakthrough at CERN with record trapping technique Credit: 2023-2025 CERN | Maximilien Brice Physicists from Swansea University have played the leading role in a scientific breakthrough at CERN, developing an innovative technique that increases the antihydrogen trapping rate by a factor of ten. The advancement, achieved as part of the international Antihydrogen Laser Physics Apparatus (ALPHA) collaboration, has been published in Nature Communications and could help answer one of the biggest questions in physics: Why is there such a large imbalance between matter and antimatter? According to the Big Bang theory, equal amounts were created at the beginning of the universe, so why is the world around us made almost entirely of matter? Antihydrogen is the "mirror version" of hydrogen, made from an antiproton and a positron. Trapping and studying it helps scientists explore how antimatter behaves, and whether it follows the same rules as matter. Producing and trapping antihydrogen is an extremely complicated process. Previous methods took 24 hours to trap just 2,000 atoms, limiting the scope of experiments at ALPHA. The Swansea-led team has changed that. Using laser-cooled beryllium ions, the team has demonstrated that it is possible to cool positrons to less than 10 Kelvin (below -263degC), significantly colder than the previous threshold of about 15 Kelvin. These cooler positrons dramatically boost the efficiency of antihydrogen production and trapping--allowing a record 15,000 atoms to be trapped in less than seven hours. Physicists drive antihydrogen breakthrough at CERN with record trapping technique The experimental apparatus and the axial magnetic field profile. Credit: Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/ s41467-025-65085-4 This marks a new era at ALPHA, expanding the range of possible experiments and enabling more precise tests of fundamental physics, including how antimatter responds to gravity and whether it obeys the same symmetries as matter. Professor Niels Madsen from the School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics, lead author of the study and Deputy Spokesperson for ALPHA, said, "It's more than a decade since I first realized that this was the way forward, so it's incredibly gratifying to see the spectacular outcome that will lead to many new exciting measurements on antihydrogen." Maria Goncalves, a leading Ph.D. student on the project, added, "This result was the culmination of many years of hard work. The first successful attempt instantly improved the previous method by a factor of two, giving us 36 antihydrogen atoms--my new favorite number! It was a very exciting project to be a part of, and I'm looking forward to seeing what pioneering measurements this technique has made possible." Dr. Kurt Thompson, a leading researcher on the project, said, "This fantastic achievement was accomplished by the dedication and collaborative efforts of many Swansea graduate students, summer students and researchers over the past decade. It represents a major paradigm shift in the capabilities of antihydrogen research. Experiments that used to take months can now be performed in a single day." More information: R. Akbari et al, Be^+ assisted, simultaneous confinement of more than 15000 antihydrogen atoms, Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-65085-4 Journal information: Nature Communications Provided by Swansea University Citation: Physicists drive antihydrogen breakthrough at CERN with record trapping technique (2025, November 18) retrieved 27 November 2025 from https://phys.org/news/ 2025-11-physicists-antihydrogen-breakthrough-cern-technique.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Explore further Researchers achieve world's first manipulation of antimatter by laser --------------------------------------------------------------------- 145 shares * Facebook * Twitter * Email Feedback to editors * Featured * Last Comments * Popular Dating a North American rock art tradition that lasted 175 generations 4 hours ago 0 Entanglement-enhanced optical lattice clock achieves unprecedented precision 7 hours ago 0 Astronomers capture an exceptional gamma-ray flare from a blazar 9 hours ago 0 Physicist delineates limits on the precision of quantum thermal machines 9 hours ago 0 Secret behind Temple of Venus's resilient construction uncovered 10 hours ago 1 --------------------------------------------------------------------- [gif] Social media research tool can lower political temperature--it could also lead to more user control over algorithms 4 hours ago [gif] Watching metal crystals grow inside liquid metal: Imaging technique could boost hydrogen production 4 hours ago [gif] Dating a North American rock art tradition that lasted 175 generations 4 hours ago [gif] Survey raises estimate of African forest elephant numbers 4 hours ago [gif] Scientists capture the crackling sounds of what they believe is lightning on Mars 6 hours ago [gif] Mystery foot belongs to ancient human relative: Scientists 6 hours ago [gif] Meteorite samples are time capsules from the early solar system 6 hours ago [gif] Instagram users overestimate their social media addiction, study suggests 7 hours ago [gif] Major droughts linked to ancient Indus Valley Civilization's collapse 7 hours ago [gif] Thousands of genomes reveal the wild wolf genes in most dogs' DNA 7 hours ago --------------------------------------------------------------------- Relevant PhysicsForums posts Thinking Outside The Box Versus Knowing What's In The Box 5 hours ago Gravitational effects of a small black hole passing your body Nov 26, 2025 Analog power supply output question Nov 25, 2025 Screwy AAA Battery Nov 24, 2025 Question about the absorption of heat based on color Nov 7, 2025 Opposite law propose Nov 5, 2025 More from Other Physics Topics --------------------------------------------------------------------- * Related Stories [gif] Researchers achieve world's first manipulation of antimatter by laser Mar 31, 2021 [gif] The ALPHA experiment moves towards the increasingly precise study of antihydrogen Feb 10, 2025 [gif] AEgIS on track to test freefall of antimatter Feb 11, 2021 [gif] Optical fiber link to make CERN more on time than ever Feb 21, 2025 [gif] Experiment paves the way for new set of antimatter studies by laser-cooling positronium Feb 22, 2024 [gif] ALPHA collaboration reports first measurements of certain quantum effects in antimatter Feb 20, 2020 * Recommended for you [gif] Consciousness as the foundation: New theory addresses nature of reality Nov 25, 2025 [gif] Defining work and heat in quantum systems: Laser light coherence offers a consistent approach Nov 25, 2025 [gif] Particle accelerator waste could help produce cancer-fighting materials Nov 25, 2025 [gif] Final experimental result for the muon still challenges theorists Nov 21, 2025 [gif] What would a small black hole do to the human body? Scientist aims to answer that Nov 21, 2025 [gif] Laser-induced break-up of C60 fullerenes caught in real-time on X-ray camera Nov 21, 2025 Load comments (0) Get Instant Summarized Text (Gist) A new technique using laser-cooled beryllium ions has increased the antihydrogen trapping rate at CERN by a factor of ten, enabling the capture of 15,000 atoms in under seven hours. This advance allows positrons to be cooled below 10 K, greatly improving antihydrogen production efficiency and expanding opportunities for precise studies of antimatter properties and fundamental symmetries. This summary was automatically generated using LLM. Full disclaimer Let us know if there is a problem with our content Use this form if you have come across a typo, inaccuracy or would like to send an edit request for the content on this page. For general inquiries, please use our contact form. For general feedback, use the public comments section below (please adhere to guidelines). Please select the most appropriate category to facilitate processing of your request [-- please select one -- ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Your message to the editors [ ] Your email (optional, only if you'd like a response) [ ] Send Feedback Thank you for taking time to provide your feedback to the editors. Your feedback is important to us. However, we do not guarantee individual replies due to the high volume of messages. E-mail the story Physicists drive antihydrogen breakthrough at CERN with record trapping technique Your friend's email [ ] Your email [ ] [ ] I would like to subscribe to Science X Newsletter. Learn more Your name [ ] Note Your email address is used only to let the recipient know who sent the email. Neither your address nor the recipient's address will be used for any other purpose. The information you enter will appear in your e-mail message and is not retained by Phys.org in any form. [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Your message [ ] Send Newsletter sign up Get weekly and/or daily updates delivered to your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time and we'll never share your details to third parties. [ ] Subscribe More information Privacy policy Donate and enjoy an ad-free experience We keep our content available to everyone. Consider supporting Science X's mission by getting a premium account. Remove ads Maybe later Medical Xpress Medical Xpress Medical research advances and health news Tech Xplore Tech Xplore The latest engineering, electronics and technology advances Science X Science X The most comprehensive sci-tech news coverage on the web Newsletters [ ] Subscribe Science X Daily and the Weekly Email Newsletter are free features that allow you to receive your favorite sci-tech news updates in your email inbox Follow us * * * * * * * * Top * Home * Search * Mobile version * Help * FAQ * About * Contact * Support us * Science X Account * Archive * News wire * Android app * iOS app * RSS feeds * Push notification (c) Phys.org 2003 - 2025 powered by Science X Network Privacy policy Terms of use E-mail newsletter [ ] Subscribe Follow us * * * * It appears that you are currently using Ad Blocking software. What are the consequences? x Quantcast