In science fiction stories it is either the inexhaustible energy source of the future or a superweapon of galactic magnitude: antimaterial. In fact, antimaterial can neither be found on Earth nor in space, is extremely complex to produce and thus difficult to study. In order to nevertheless track down the origin of material and antimaterial in the universe, a European research group is measuring the power of the electrical dipole moment of neutrons, which represents a measure for the different physical properties of material and antimaterial. The prerequisite for further, still more accurate measurements is a perfect insulation against electrical and magnetic radiation from the environment. Magnetically soft mumetal serves as a material of the new shielding - the design, testing and set-up of which the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt is responsible.
PTB-Contact:
Dr. Allard Schnabel, Fachbereich 8.2 Biosignale, Tel. (030) 3481-7423, E-Mail: Allard.Schnabel@ptb.de
Dr. Martin Burghoff, Fachbereich 8.2 Biosignale, Tel. (030) 3481-7238, E-Mail: Martin.Burghoff@ptb.de
Information on mu-metal cabin at PTB
http://www.ptb.de/en/publikationen/blickpunkt/_biomagnetismus.html
List of involved research institutions
http://nedm.web.psi.ch
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