By: Tim Wei

1
Matter Antimatter

• By Tim Wei
• MY AS 9
• Block A

2
What is Antimatter?

• Antimatter is a theory that proposed that every
  single individual matter or particle that makes
  up our world has an exact opposite partner
  particle. These are called the antiparticles.

3
Properties of Antimatter

• Antimatter, specifically, is the partner particle
  that resembles our normal, everyday particles in
  every property. From the mass, size to even how
  it reacts with other particles. Everything is
  exactly the same, except the charge of the
  particle. A normal particle with a positive
  charge would have an antiparticle of a negative
  charge.

4
Properties of Antimatter

• (continued)
• The antimatter or antiparticles are also very
  special and mysterious in another way. This
  property of antiparticles is that antimatter,
  unlike the normal particles of our world, cannot
  be seen in any way. The only way of detecting it
  is through its gravitational pull.
• It is like a mirror world exactly like our own
  that we just cant see.

5
The Origin of Antimatter

• The theory was first formally predicted in the
  year 1928.
• By an English Physicist named Paul Adrien Maurice
  Dirac.
• He was the very first, as believed by many other
  physicists, in the history of science to ever
  predict things as revolutionary as antimatter
  with such courage.

6
The Origin of Antimatter

• (continued)
• Diracs proposal of such a theory was a
  combination of mathematical insights from many
  other scientists formulas and was also proven
  with help of experiments conducted by other
  physicists later on.
• One of these insights originated from Bohrs
  model of Quantum theory, published in the year
  1913.

7
The Origin of Antimatter

• (continued)
• Diracs prediscovery of antimatter was first just
  from his interest and attempt in solving the
  meaning of the math behind the newly developed
  Quantum Mechanics. For during the 1900s, it was
  the time when Niels Bohr founded the new Quantum
  theory through Johann Jakob Balmers 1885 formula
  on the frequencies of light of hydrogen spectrum.

8
The Origin of Antimatter

• (continued)
• After Balmers formula has triggered the
  discovery of basic Quantum Mechanics and so
  influenced Diracs works. Yet another origin of
  the Quantum theory that really founded this field
  of Physics was taking shape. In the year 1925,
  Werner Heisenberg has successfully found the
  mathematical framework for todays Quantum
  Mechanics.

9
The Origin of Antimatter

• (continued)
• It was these contributions that led to Dirac
  being able to describe electrons using a formula
  that incorporated both relativity and the Quantum
  theory.
• This was when a problem of the formula arose.
• The equation allowed electrons to have negative
  energy.

10
The Origin of Antimatter

• (continued)
• This was what really triggered the birth of
  antimatter, because the equation is mainly based
  on squares and as we know for each square there
  are a positive and a negative square root. So,
  Dirac reasoned that the possibility of an
  electron with positive energy would be the same
  as one with negative energy. Since its predicted
  in the math.

11
Invisibility

• If Diracs predictions were true, then how can
  one go about finding it? Since no one has ever
  seen such things as antiparticles let alone
  finding one for each and every known particles
  that make up our world.
• A main problem to this was that antiparticles are
  invisible and cant be seen in any way.

12
Blind Search

• Though people cant see these antiparticles and
  have said that it was never observed. In fact, it
  already has.
• It was common during the 1900s to use cloud
  chambers to study cosmic rays encountering Earth.
  Particles leave behind tracks as it passed
  through the chamber. And sometimes one could see
  a distinct trail somehow traveling the opposite
  way.

13
Blind Search

• (continued)
• These are the antiparticles that were observed
  and these later supported Diracs prediction on
  mirror particles.

14
Atom Colliders

• Later on in the 1930, physicists used the concept
  of that particles could be collided and combined
  to release energy and the energy set free would
  form particles. This was the start of using atom
  accelerators to study particles and mostly of
  antiparticles.

15
Atom Colliders

• (continued)
• This was the era of huge accelerators being able
  to speed particles near the speed of light
  evolving from the classical cloud chambers. Many
  antimatter discoveries were made like so.

16
Antiparticle Partners

• Thus through the aid of advance in technology,
  the field of antimatter was able to achieve great
  accomplishments. Many particle partners have
  already been found.
• For example, positrons, antiprotons,
  antineutrons, and antineutrinos.

17
Antimatter in the Cosmos

• Antimatter could be found not only as tiny
  particles or forms of atoms. Scientists believed
  that they have recently observed creations of the
  mirror particles. Such as mirror planets and
  mirror stars which are invisible objects in
  space, but physicists have yet to confirm their
  existence.

18
Bibliography

• Works Cited
• AntimatterMirror of the Universe. 2000-2001.
  CERN. 6 Feb. 2004 lthttp//livefromcern.web.cern
  .ch/livefromcern/ antimatter/index.htmlgt.
• Siegfried, Tom. Strange MattersUndiscovered
  Ideas at the Frontiers of Space and Time.
  Washington D.C. Joseph Henry Press, 1950.
• Primack, Joel. Antimatter. World Book. 1991
  ed.

19
Activity

• Please answer the following questions
• 1. Briefly in your own words, please describe
  what antimatter is.
• 2. Please incorporate details about proof that
  shows antimatter do exist. Also put down your own
  ideas (minimum of two points) on how this theory
  could otherwise be proven correct or incorrect.
• 3. Please shortly state your opinions on whether
  antimatter has an impact on peoples everyday
  lives or not.

20
The End