The discussion revolves around the properties of matter and antimatter, specifically focusing on particles such as protons, positrons, and anti-neutrons. Participants explore various aspects of these particles, including their charges and how they interact, as well as the challenges in observing certain antimatter particles.
Participants express differing views on the properties of antimatter, particularly regarding additional distinguishing characteristics beyond charge. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing ideas and no consensus reached.
Some claims about properties of particles and antiparticles are based on varying levels of familiarity with the subject, and there are references to external sources for further clarification. The discussion also highlights the challenges in observing certain particles due to their neutral nature.
Pakbabydoll said:opposites..
Matter/ Antimatter
proton/ positron
electron/photon
is that right? So can you tell me there properties? '
thanks
Particles are known to exist through interactions. An anti-neutron would annihilate a neutron with a meson shower, i.e. + and - mesons, and perhaps neutral pairs, going in various directions.Doom of Doom said:How can anti-neutrons be observed?
IIRC, there is another property that is different, besides charge, but this difference doesn't usually receive much attention, presumably because the property is not well known to the general public.. Unforetunately, I don't remember what that property was. Anyone cares to freshen my memory - and enlighten the other readers while they're at it?DaveC426913 said:Matter/Antimatter
Antiprotons are just like protons except they have a negative charge.
Positrons are just like electrons except with a positive charge.
technobot said:IIRC, there is another property that is different, besides charge, but this difference doesn't usually receive much attention, presumably because the property is not well known to the general public.. Unforetunately, I don't remember what that property was. Anyone cares to freshen my memory - and enlighten the other readers while they're at it?
That was my first thought too, but according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiparticle the spin is the same:joshd said:spin? Isn't that the reason that the charge is different in the first place? (spin = helicity?)
Plus, if memory serves, it was some more exotic property (or seemed so to me when I read about it somewhere a long time ago), even less well known than spin. Maybe baryon number or some such...In other words, particle and antiparticle must have
* the same mass m
* the same spin state J
* opposite electric charges q and -q.