AD (Antimatter Decelerator)

The Antimatter Decelerator (AD) is a science facility at CERN designed to produce and slow down antimatter particles, primarily antiprotons. Because antimatter annihilates upon contact with regular matter, these particles must be carefully cooled and contained using powerful magnetic and electric fields in a vacuum. Slowing antimatter allows scientists to study its properties in detail, compare it with matter, and explore fundamental questions about the universe’s symmetry. The AD plays a crucial role in antimatter research, helping us understand why the universe is dominated by matter, despite theories suggesting equal amounts of both should have formed after the Big Bang.