Design and preliminary testing of a high performance antiproton trap (HiPAT)

Abstract

Abstract. Antimatter represents the ptnnaele of energy density, offering the potential to enhance current fusion/fission concepts enabling various classes of deep space missions. Current production rates are sufficient to support proof-ofconcept evaluation of many key technologies associated with antimatter-derived propulsion.Storage has been identified as a key enabling technology for all antimatter-related operations, and as such is the current focus of this NASA-MSFC effort to design and fabricate a portable device capable of holding up to 1012 particles. Hardware has been assembled and initial tests are underway to evaluate the trap behavior using electron gun generated, positive hydrogen ions. Ions have been stored for tens of minutes, limited by observed iraeraetion with background gas. Additionally, radio frequency manipulation is being tested to increase lifetime by stabilizing the stored pea'tides, potentially reducing their interaction with background gas, easing requirements on ultimate trap vacuum and precision mechanical alignment,

RF Stabilization for Storage of Antiprotons

“…Near term storage is being addressed at MSFC with the High Performance Antiproton Trap (HiPAT). HiPAT is a portable Penning-Malmberg ion trap that stores ions as a non-neutral plasma (Martin, 2001). Design capacity is 10 12 antiprotons (approximately one half day's production at Fermilab) with a storage lifetime of ~18 days.…”