Overview
- Tokyo University of Science researchers produced a high-quality neutral beam by creating negatively charged positronium ions and removing the extra electron with a timed laser pulse.
- Transmission through a two‑ to three‑layer graphene target yielded a clear diffraction pattern measured on a position‑sensitive detector.
- The results show positronium behaves as a single quantum particle rather than its electron and positron diffracting independently.
- The new method delivers beam energies up to about 3.3 keV with a much narrower energy spread and tight directional focus in ultra‑high vacuum.
- Findings reported in Nature Communications point to potential non‑destructive, surface‑sensitive material probes and future antimatter experiments such as gravity tests still to be pursued.