High density storage of excited positronium using photonic bandgap traps

A method of capturing antimatter, said method comprising:

• providing an antimatter capture device comprising, a three-dimensional or two-dimensional photonic bandgap (PBG) structure containing at least one PBG cavity therein, said PBG cavity capable of containing a quantity of species selected from the group consisting of excited electrically neutral atoms and molecules of antimatter, and excited electrically neutral atoms and molecules of exotic matter;
• and
• introducing said species into said at least one PBG cavity.

A state of antimatter comprising a three-dimensional or two-dimensional photonic bandgap (PBG) structure containing an array of PBG cavities in said PBG structure, each PBG cavity separated from its nearest-neighbor cavities by a distance that is less than the photon localization length, each cavity containing a quantity of species selected from the group consisting of excited electrically neutral atoms and molecules of antimatter, and excited electrically neutral atoms and molecules of exotic matter.

The state of antimatter of claim 29 wherein said excited positronium comprises an electron and a positron bound together in orbit, but separated by a first distance, and wherein said excited positronium is separated from said cavity wall by a second distance.

A combination of localized photons and partially excited species to form a stationary-state superposition thereof, or a stable photon-species-cavity bound state, formed by an excited electrically neutral species of antimatter or exotic matter interacting with cavity walls of a cavity located within a photonic bandgap (PBG) structure, said interaction being mediated by photons.

A method of releasing gamma ray radiation, comprising:

• providing an antimatter excitation device comprising a three-dimensional or two-dimensional photonic bandgap (PBG) structure containing at least one PBG cavity therein, said at least one PBG cavity containing a quantity of excited positronium;
• and
• perturbing said PBG structure such that the index of refraction contrast, the geometry, the spacing, and/or the shape of the constituent components changes in such a way as to shift or turn off the bandgap that is responsible for maintaining the positronium in an excited state to thereby release said gamma ray radiation.

A beam of species comprising excited electrically neutral atoms or molecules of antimatter or excited electrically neutral atoms or molecules of exotic matter emitted by a photonic bandgap (PBG) structure containing at least one PBG cavity therein, said at least one PBG cavity containing a quantity of said species, said beam comprising said species channeled out of said PBG structure into a desired direction by opened linear defect waveguides in said PBG structure.

A particle beam comprising electrically charged antimatter emitted by a photonic bandgap (PBG) structure containing at least one PBG cavity therein, said PBG cavity containing a quantity of excited electrically neutral atoms or molecules of antimatter or excited electrically neutral atoms or molecules of exotic matter, said excited electrically neutral atoms or molecules then ionized by an electric field, with electric and magnetic fields used to direct the ions out of the PBG device.