The aim of the ALPHA experiment at CERN is to trap cold atomic antihydrogen, study its properties, and ultimately to perform precision comparison between the hydrogen and antihydrogen atomic spectra. Recently, the collaboration has reached several important experimental milestones. Namely of late, demonstrating the ability to trap and confine neutral cold antihydrogen for up to 1000 seconds; performing the first spectroscopic measurements of antihydrogen using microwave spectroscopy; demonstration of the first application of a new technique to set limits on the possible anomalous gravitational mass of antihydrogen; and use novel methods to set limits on the charge neutrality of antihydrogen.

The principal tool for antihydrogen detection in the ALPHA experiment is a Silicon Vertex Detector (SVD), built with 72 double-sided silicon strip hybrid modules and designed to surround our neutral atom trap. Recently upgraded, the SVD is used to image single annihilation events, reconstructing spatial and timing data of antiproton annihilation.

An overview of the ALPHA experiment, its operation, recent results and outlook will be presented. Along with a description of the SVD’s operation, performance, and application to physics experiments.