Difference between revisions of "Antimatter"

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'''Antimatter''' is much like normal matter, but its constituent particles carry the opposite electrical charge of their normal matter counterparts.  Antiparticles can be created from energy in a particle accelerator, and they can form naturally during certain kinds of [[radioactive decay]].
'''Antimatter''' is much like normal matter, but its constituent particles carry the opposite electrical charge of their normal matter counterparts.  Antiparticles can be created from energy in a particle accelerator, and they can form naturally during certain kinds of [[radioactive decay]].


*The anti-particle for the electron is the positron.  It has the same mass as an [[electron]], but it carries a positive charge instead of a negative charge.
*The anti-particle for the [[electron]] is the positron.  It has the same mass as an electron, but it carries a positive charge instead of a negative charge.
*The anti-particle for the proton is the antiproton.  It has the same mass as a [[proton]] and a negative charge.
*The anti-particle for the [[proton]] is the antiproton.  It has the same mass as a proton and a negative charge.
*The anti-particle for the neutron is the antineutron.  It has the same mass as a [[neutron]] and carries no charge, but it will still annihilate a neutron because the antineutron itself is composed of charged antiquarks.
*The anti-particle for the [[neutron]] is the antineutron.  It has the same mass as a neutron and carries no charge, but it will still annihilate a neutron because the antineutron itself is composed of charged antiquarks.
*Smaller subatomic particles like quarks also have antiparticles.
*Smaller subatomic particles like [[quark]]s also have antiparticles.
*Massless particles like photons generally don't have antiparticles.
*Massless particles like [[photon]]s generally don't have antiparticles.


If a particle of matter comes into contact with its anti-particle, both will "annihilate" each other, converting their combined mass into energy.
If a particle of matter comes into contact with its anti-particle, both will "annihilate" each other, converting their combined mass into energy.

Revision as of 18:33, 14 May 2008

Antimatter is much like normal matter, but its constituent particles carry the opposite electrical charge of their normal matter counterparts. Antiparticles can be created from energy in a particle accelerator, and they can form naturally during certain kinds of radioactive decay.

  • The anti-particle for the electron is the positron. It has the same mass as an electron, but it carries a positive charge instead of a negative charge.
  • The anti-particle for the proton is the antiproton. It has the same mass as a proton and a negative charge.
  • The anti-particle for the neutron is the antineutron. It has the same mass as a neutron and carries no charge, but it will still annihilate a neutron because the antineutron itself is composed of charged antiquarks.
  • Smaller subatomic particles like quarks also have antiparticles.
  • Massless particles like photons generally don't have antiparticles.

If a particle of matter comes into contact with its anti-particle, both will "annihilate" each other, converting their combined mass into energy.

Antiparticles can chemically interact with each other in much the way ordinary particles do. For instance, an antiproton and a positron can combine to form anti-hydrogen.

See Also

External Links