Create Matter: Can it be Reverse Engineered from Nothing?

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The discussion revolves around the theoretical possibility of creating matter and antimatter from nothing. Participants clarify that while matter and antimatter can annihilate each other to produce energy, reversing this process to create matter from nothing would violate the conservation of energy. Quantum physics suggests that, given infinite time and some energy, matter could spontaneously appear, but this is highly improbable within a finite timeframe. The conversation also touches on the implications of the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle regarding the temporary emergence of mass/energy. Ultimately, the consensus is that creating matter from nothing remains a theoretical concept rather than a practical reality.
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If matter and anti matter can combine to cancel each other out, can your reverse the process to pull matter and anti matter from nothing? I ask in a theoretical sense, not weather we are currently capable or not.

Looking forward to your responses!
 
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2Chewz said:
If matter and anti matter can combine to cancel each other out, can your reverse the process to pull matter and anti matter from nothing? I ask in a theoretical sense, not weather we are currently capable or not.

Yes. Google for "pair production".
 
Nugatory said:
Yes. Google for "pair production".

That's still energy though. Unless I am wrong about anti matter (matter and anti matter cancel each other out into nothing). What I mean is can you take nothing, flip a few switches and push a few buttons to fabricate matter and anti matter from the fabric of space.
 
2Chewz said:
If matter and anti matter can combine to cancel each other out, can your reverse the process to pull matter and anti matter from nothing?
Matter and anti matter don't cancel each other out. They annihilate each other, producing two photons. And yes, the process can be reversed so that two photons can produce an electron and a positron.
 
2Chewz said:
Unless I am wrong about anti matter (matter and anti matter cancel each other out into nothing).
This is wrong. It would violate the conservation of energy. See above.
 
DaleSpam said:
Matter and anti matter don't cancel each other out. They annihilate each other, producing two photons. And yes, the process can be reversed so that two photons can produce an electron and a positron.

Alright, thanks for the clarification. Is there any way to to make matter into nothing?
 
No, it would violate conservation of energy.
 
Einstein's theory of relativity states that E=mc^2 or E^2=(mc^2)^2x(pc)^2. Which means that abundant energy creates mass and vice versa.
 
Sorry, to actually answer your question, given an infinite amount of time matter could 'appear' spontaneously.
Although, given a finite time scale this anti-matter reversal would be very improbable. On the other hand, if any energy or matter is present at all, this process would be probable.
 
  • #10
There is no such thing as "nothing" in fact... except for singular points (perhaps) since by definition they are missing/cannot be studied... even the vacuum is a soup of virtual particles- give them enough energy and they will pop up...
 
  • #11
WildHYDRA said:
Sorry, to actually answer your question, given an infinite amount of time matter could 'appear' spontaneously.
Although, given a finite time scale this anti-matter reversal would be very improbable. On the other hand, if any energy or matter is present at all, this process would be probable.

What process are you talking about? Why would matter appear spontaneously?
 
  • #12
@Drak Quantum physics dictates that if an infinite amount of time is "available", with even the smallest amount of matter or energy present, almost any possible combination of matter could be created. When I said "appear", I meant come from other places within the universe. In fact, my wording was rather poor in my previous point.

By 'process', I was referring to the question, the "pulling matter from nothing" question.
 
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  • #13
Okay, I see what you mean now.
 
  • #14
2Chewz said:
Alright, thanks for the clarification. Is there any way to to make matter into nothing?

The best you can do annihilate anti-particle particle pairs into electromagnetic waves. To actually turn something into nothing would take an act of god. :-p
 
  • #15
Doesn't the energy-time version of Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle say that mass/energy can pop into existence for very short times?

Might be a silly question, but this is what I've gathered from reading about it.
 
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