AEgIS: Status and Prospects

Abstract

The progresses of the AEgIS collaboration on its way towards directly measuring the gravitational free-fall of neutral antimatter atoms are reviewed. The experiment recently developed the first pulsed cold antihydrogen source and entered in its second phase, aiming at the first proof-of-concept gravitational measurement. Several major upgrades were deployed, including an upgraded antihydrogen production scheme and a fully-redesigned antiproton trap. AEgIS re-started its operation on the new CERN ELENA decelerator in late 2021, capturing its first antiprotons and commissioning its new antiproton energy degrading system and hardware/software control systems.