Matter-antimatter annihilation

From Imperial Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
The printable version is no longer supported and may have rendering errors. Please update your browser bookmarks and please use the default browser print function instead.

Matter-antimatter annihilation is a theoretical form of power generation. The system brings particles of matter into contact with their oppositely charged anti-particles, allowing them to annihilate each other and release a burst of radiation. The system then converts the radiated energy into work.

The theoretical limit of M/AM annihilation power is defined by Einstein's classic equation of matter-energy equivalency: E=Mc2.

An obvious problem with M/AM annihilation power systems is the inherent difficulty of obtaining, containing, and transporting substantial quantities of antimatter.

In Science Fiction

Matter-antimatter annihilation is a common means of generating power in science fiction, especially Star Trek. The M-AM reactor used in Star Trek is called a warp core.