Anti-Matter Atom & Molecule Appearance: I'm Curious!

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter sean1234
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Anti-matter
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the appearance of anti-matter atoms and molecules, specifically anti-hydrogen, and explores the implications of their properties in comparison to ordinary matter. It touches on theoretical aspects of anti-matter's visibility and optical characteristics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses curiosity about the visual appearance of a single anti-hydrogen atom and its potential macroscopic visibility.
  • Another participant claims that anti-hydrogen would look identical to ordinary hydrogen.
  • A suggestion is made to consider positronium, described as a hydrogen-like atom composed of an electron and a positron.
  • Further elaboration indicates that anti-hydrogen consists of an anti-proton and a positron, and it is proposed that its spectrum should match that of normal hydrogen, supporting CPT symmetry.
  • There is a discussion about the optical properties of macroscopic anti-matter objects, suggesting that they should have the same absorption and emission spectrum as their matter counterparts, potentially leading to similar colors or transparency.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present differing views on the appearance of anti-matter, with some asserting it would look identical to ordinary matter while others provide detailed reasoning about its optical properties. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the visual characteristics of anti-matter.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes assumptions about the symmetry between matter and anti-matter and the implications for optical properties, which are not fully explored or agreed upon.

sean1234
Messages
40
Reaction score
0
I am curious as to how a single anti-matter atom looks, say anti-hydrogen. Further, Assuming you had the resources what would a visible (to the naked eye) molecule look like?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
It would look identical to ordinary matter.
 
google positronium, a hydrogen like atom composed of an electron and a positively charged antiparticle of the electron.
 
sean1234 said:
I am curious as to how a single anti-matter atom looks, say anti-hydrogen. Further, Assuming you had the resources what would a visible (to the naked eye) molecule look like?

Anti-hydrogen has negatively charged nucleus (anti-proton) and positively charged particle (positron) orbiting around it. Supposedly it's spectrum should be exactly the same as the one from normal hydrogen, which would confirm something known as CPT symmetry. The color (or transparency) of macroscopic objects is due to their absorption and emission of the photons of visible light (an object is transparent if it doesn't absorb photons of visible light; they just pass through it, into our eyes). If there is a symmetry between matter and antimatter, a macroscopic object composed of anti-matter should have the same optical absorption and emission spectrum (I guess) and therefore it should have the same color (or remain transparent).
 

Similar threads

Undergrad Collision of anti-hydrogen with matter
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
3K
Graduate Can Quantum Logic Techniques Be Applied to Complex Molecular Ions?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
5K
High School What are the differences between relict and relic?
  • · Replies 28 ·
Replies
28
Views
4K
Undergrad Band theory and qualitative character of bands
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Undergrad Best models to describe molecules
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
Undergrad How do I show a skeptic that atoms/molecules actually exist?
  • · Replies 97 ·
4
Replies
97
Views
11K
Undergrad Electron angular momentum in diatomic molecules
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Undergrad Antimatter atoms vs atoms with greater mass?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
How much should I adjust torque when using anti-seize?
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
8K
Undergrad Raman spectroscopy calculations
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K