Annihilation of Matter/Antimatter

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the annihilation of matter and antimatter, specifically exploring the implications of such annihilation on nearby particles and the potential theoretical application of antimatter in manipulating atomic structures, such as altering the neutron composition of uranium.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether matter and antimatter only annihilate each other or if the resulting energy disrupts nearby particles.
  • Another participant notes that the amount of matter-antimatter involved would influence the extent of disturbance caused by the annihilation.
  • It is mentioned that annihilation produces particles like gamma rays, which would interact with surrounding material, suggesting that using antimatter to selectively remove neutrons without affecting protons is unlikely.
  • A participant expresses skepticism about the feasibility of using anti-neutrons theoretically due to the differing properties of neutrons and anti-neutrons.
  • Concerns are raised regarding uranium's lack of stable isotopes, which complicates any theoretical manipulation of its neutron composition.
  • Discussion includes the idea that the annihilation reaction produces gamma radiation, which is ionizing and could cause disturbances.
  • Questions are posed about the specific types of matter and antimatter involved, particularly regarding their charge patterns.
  • Another participant suggests that the system's effectiveness would depend on the specific matter being manipulated.
  • A question is raised about how to influence the charges of other matter outward.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the feasibility of using antimatter for selective neutron removal, with no consensus reached on the theoretical viability of the proposed method.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the unresolved nature of the interactions between annihilation products and surrounding materials, as well as the dependence on the specific types of matter and antimatter discussed.

D4rthV4D3r
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When anti matter and matter come into contact do they only annihilate each other leaving everything else undisturbed? Or does the resulting energy destroy/tear apart nearby particles?

The reason I ask, assuming that the result is the former, if antimatter were to be harnessed could anti-neutrons be fired at a radioactive element (say Uranium), getting rid of neutrons but leaving the protons undisturbed (so it stays Uranium) until it reaches a stable ratio of protons and neutrons.

I realize this is currently impossible with our means, but in theory could it work? I couldn't find any discussion of this elsewhere on the internet.
 
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How much matter-antimatter are we talking about?
Two particles of matter-antimatter won't cause too much fuss.
 
When antimatter and matter annihilate, they produce a number of other particles, such as gamma rays. These products of the reaction WILL interact with surrounding material. I would say off the top of my head that no, you could not use antimatter to get rid of single neutrons in an atom without disturbing anything else. How much disturbance you would get I do not know though.
 
the properties of neutrons and anti-neutrons are different as much as i know...so i doubt that it would work even in theory...
 
Since Uranium has no stable isotopes, even if you used a magic wand to add or remove neutrons this would not work.
 
of course the reaction would produce 2 photons of gamma. since gamma is ionizing radiation, the disturbance is always possible.
but I'm not sure if it possible to annihilate neutron inside radionuclide in this way.
 
Okay, first of all what type of Antimatter and what type of matter are you talking about?;what are the charge patterns?
 
Vanadium 50 said:
Uranium has no stable isotopes

Could this system work using both anti-neutrons, and p-bars?
 
Yes, but it really depends on what matter you want to make
 
  • #10
May I ask how would you force other matter's charges outward
 

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