New experiments with antiprotons

TL;DR

Fermilab's intense antiproton source enables diverse experiments, including charm physics, antimatter gravity tests, and studies of exotic particles, promising broad physics insights after the Tevatron era.

Contribution

The paper proposes new experimental opportunities using Fermilab's antiproton source for precision measurements and antimatter studies post-Tevatron.

Findings

Potential to produce the world's most intense tagged D^0 meson source

Feasibility of measuring gravitational effects on antimatter

Opportunities for precision studies of exotic states like X(3872)

Abstract

Fermilab operates the world's most intense antiproton source. Recently proposed experiments can use those antiprotons either parasitically during Tevatron Collider running or after the Tevatron Collider finishes in about 2011. For example, the annihilation of 8 GeV antiprotons might make the world's most intense source of tagged D^0 mesons, and thus the best near-term opportunity to study charm mixing and search for new physics via its CP-violation signature. Other possible precision measurements include properties of the X(3872) and the charmonium system. An experiment using a Penning trap and an atom interferometer could make the world's first measurement of the gravitational force on antimatter. These and other potential measurements using antiprotons could yield a broad physics program at Fermilab in the post-Tevatron era.