Inward Transport and Compression of a Positron Plasma by a Rotating Electric Field

TLDR

A rotating electric field applied to a magnetized positron plasma in a Penning‑Malmberg trap drives inward transport, while collisions with a neutral buffer gas mitigate heating. The technique compresses the plasma over a wide frequency range, achieving central density increases up to a factor of 20 and enabling brighter positron beams, studies of electron‑positron plasmas, and antihydrogen production.

Abstract

Inward transport of a magnetized pure positron plasma confined in a Penning-Malmberg trap is produced by applying a rotating electric field to the plasma. Compression is observed over a broad range of frequencies. Compression factors up to 20 in central density were obtained. Positron collisions with a neutral buffer gas are used to counteract the heating due to the rotating electric field. The results have implications for a variety of applications including the production of brightness enhanced positron beams, the study of electron-positron plasmas, and antihydrogen production.