One of the most interesting tasks facing modern science is unraveling the mysteries of the universe. It is known that everything in the world consists of matter or matter. But, according to the assumptions of scientists, at the moment of the Big Bang, not only the substance that makes up all the objects of the surrounding world was formed, but also the so-called antimatter, antimatter and, therefore, the antiparticles of matter.
Antiparticle of the electron
The first antiparticle whose existence was predicted and then scientifically proven was the positron.
To understand the origin of this antiparticle, it is worth referring to the structure of the atom. It is known that the nucleus of an atom contains protons (positively charged particles) and neutrons (particles that do not have a charge). Electrons circulate in its orbits - particles with a negative electric charge.
Positron is the antiparticle of the electron. It has a positive charge. In physics, the symbol for a positron looks like this: e+ (the symbol used to denote an electron ise-). This antiparticle appears as a result of radioactive decay.
How is a positron different from a proton?
The charge of the positron is positive, so its difference from the electron and neutron is obvious. But the proton, unlike the electron and neutron, also has a positive charge. Some people make the mistake of believing that a positron and a proton are essentially the same thing.
The difference is that a proton is a particle, a part of the substance, matter that makes up our world, which is part of each atomic nucleus. The positron is the antiparticle of the electron. It has nothing to do with the proton, except for a positive charge.
Who discovered the positron?
For the first time, the existence of the positron was suggested by the English physicist Paul Dirac in 1928. His hypothesis was that an antiparticle with a positive charge corresponds to the electron. In addition, Dirac suggested that, having met, both particles would disappear, releasing a large amount of energy in the process. Another of his hypotheses was that there is an inverse process in which an electron and a particle appear that are inverse to it. The photo shows the tracks of an electron and its antiparticles
Several years later, physicist Carl Anderson (USA), photographing particles with a cloud chamber and studying their tracks, discovered traces of particles similar to electrons. However, the tracks had a reverse curvature from the magnetic field. Therefore, their charge was positive. The ratio of particle charge to mass was the same as that of an electron. Thus, Dirac's theory was confirmed experimentally. Anderson gaveThis antiparticle is called the positron. For his discovery, the scientist was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics.
The coupled system of electron and positron is called "positronium".
Annihilation
The term "annihilation" is translated as "disappearance" or "destruction". When Paul Dirac suggested that the particle electron and the antiparticle of the electron will disappear in a collision, it was their annihilation that was meant. In other words, this term describes the process of interaction between matter and antimatter, leading to their mutual disappearance and the release of energy resources during this process. As such, the destruction of matter does not occur, it only begins to exist in a different form.
During the collision of an electron and a positron, photons are produced - quanta of electromagnetic radiation. They have neither charge nor rest mass.
There is also a reverse process called "birth of a couple". In this case, the particle and antiparticle appear as a result of electromagnetic or other interaction.
Even when one positron and one electron collide, energy is released. It is enough to imagine what the collision of many particles with antiparticles will lead to. The energy potential of annihilation for humanity is invaluable.
Antiproton and antineutron
It is logical to assume that since the electron's antiparticle exists in nature, then other fundamental particles shouldhave antiparticles. The antiproton and antineutron were discovered in 1955 and 1956 respectively. An antiproton has a negative charge, an antineutron has no charge. Open antiparticles are called antinucleons. Thus, antimatter has the following form: the nuclei of atoms consist of antinucleons, and positrons orbit around the nucleus.
In 1969, the first isotope of antihelium was obtained in the USSR.
In 1995, antihydrogen was developed at CERN (European nuclear research laboratory).
Getting antimatter and its meaning
As it was said, the antiparticles of the electron, proton and neutron are able to annihilate with their original particles, generating energy during the collision. Therefore, the study of these phenomena is of great importance for various fields of science.
Getting antimatter is an extremely long, laborious and costly process. For this, special particle accelerators and magnetic traps are being built, which should hold the resulting antimatter. Antimatter is the most expensive substance to date.
If the production of antimatter could be put on stream, then humanity would be provided with energy for many years. In addition, antimatter could be used to create rocket fuel, because, in fact, this fuel would have been obtained simply from the contact of antimatter with any substance.
Antimatter Threat
Like many discoveries made by man, the discovery of electron and nucleon antiparticles may present people witha serious threat. Everyone knows the power of the atomic bomb and the destruction it can cause. But the power of the explosion during the contact of matter with antimatter is colossal and many times greater than the force of an atomic bomb. Thus, if an "anti-bomb" is invented one day, humanity will put itself on the brink of self-destruction.
What conclusions can we draw?
- The universe is made up of matter and antimatter.
- The antiparticles of the electron and nucleons are called "positron" and "antinucleons".
- Antiparticles have the opposite charge.
- The collision of matter and antimatter leads to annihilation.
- The energy of annihilation is so great that it can both serve the benefit of a person and threaten his existence.
