In a first, an international team of physicist’s collaboration has achieved a breakthrough by demonstrating the laser cooling of Positronium.
This development will allow high-precision measurements of the properties and gravitational behaviour of this exotic but simple matter–antimatter system
Positronium, comprising a bound electron (e-) and positron (e+), is a fundamental atomic system.
Due to its very short life, it annihilates with a half-life of 142 nano-seconds.
Its mass is twice the electron mass and enjoys the unique distinction of being a pure leptonic atom.
This hydrogen-like system, with halved frequencies for excitation, makes it a great contender for attempting laser cooling.
The experiment was performed at the European Organization for Nuclear Research, more popularly known as CERN, in Geneva.