RIBF Nuclear Physics Seminar:The Magnet in the (Anti)proton - Quantum jump

by Dr Stephan Ulmer (Ulmer Initiative Research Unit, RIKEN)

Tuesday 3 Apr 2012, 13:30 → 14:30 Asia/Tokyo

RIBF Coference Hall, RIKEN

Recently we observed spin-flips with a single proton for the first time, which is an important milestone towards a high-precision measurement of the particle’s magnetic moment. The spin quantum-jumps were detected via the continuous Stern-Gerlach effect, which has been applied already to compare the magnetic moments of the electron and the positron. However, these experiments involved magnetic moments on the level of the Bohr-magneton, while the proton's magnetic moment is about 660 times smaller and spin-flips are much harder to detect. Since the developed techniques can be directly transferred to the antiproton, this experimental success is a crucial milestone towards a million-fold improved test of the matter/antimatter-symmetry with baryons. In my talk I will present the current status of the experiment and describe our activities towards a measurement of the magnetic moment of the antiproton, which will be set-up in the framework of a RIKEN Initiative Research Unit.