What is antimatter?
Antimatter has managed to fascinate many authors and directors. In the Dan Brown's Angels and Demons, Robert Langdon saves the city from the antimatter bomb. But what is this antimatter? And more importantly is it real?
Antimatter particles are doubtlessly the stuff of science fiction but it is also a part of reality. Antimatter is a material composed of so-called antiparticles. It is believed that every particle we know of has an antimatter companion that is virtually identical to itself, but with the opposite charge.
For example, an electron has a negative charge. But its antiparticle, called a positron, has the same mass but a positive charge. When a particle and its antiparticle meet, they annihilate each other – disappearing in a burst of light.
The idea of an anti-particle was first developed by the physicist Paul Dirac in the late 1920s. Combining the emerging field of quantum mechanics with Albert Einstein's work on relativity, he revealed how particles behave at different speeds. Interpreting the consequences of his equations, Dirac suggested particles with the same mass and spin as electrons could theoretically exist, only with an opposite charge.
Matter and antimatter particles are always produced as a pair and, if they come in contact, annihilate one another, leaving behind pure energy
Scientists claim that antimatter is the costliest material to make. In 1999, Nasa said it would cost $62.5 trillion to produce a gram of antihydrogen.
So far there is nothing in physics that makes matter special. Both types of particle should exist in equal amounts, but why we don't see this remains one of the biggest mysteries in physics. Since both forms of particles annihilate each other and leave only high energy radiation, it's also a mystery as to why we have particles of a particular variety at all.
Here's a video in hindi for those who are interested in antimatter:
Posts before October 2021 have been marked as "Old Posts". Less likely, but they might have out dated or incorrect information, ugly looking bits of code, no labels, etc. Don't get me wrong, many of these posts are top-notch and interesting too.
I thought it would be better not to delete or revamp these posts, even if they suck. The bitter truth is that old works always suck, but I take that as a positive tool to convey that I am growing. Besides there's no better way to showcase my journey without these old, messy, poorly written posts!
I thought it would be better not to delete or revamp these posts, even if they suck. The bitter truth is that old works always suck, but I take that as a positive tool to convey that I am growing. Besides there's no better way to showcase my journey without these old, messy, poorly written posts!
Old Post