Does antimatter have positive or negative mass?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the nature of antimatter and its mass properties, specifically whether antimatter has positive or negative mass. The conversation touches on theoretical implications related to black holes and Hawking radiation, exploring various interpretations and claims about the behavior of antimatter in these contexts.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that antimatter has positive mass, citing the annihilation of positrons and electrons producing positive energy photons as evidence.
  • Others argue against the idea that antimatter has negative mass, suggesting that the expectation is for antimatter to have positive mass, which is a common understanding.
  • One participant challenges the description of Hawking radiation, asserting that it is a problematic interpretation and does not involve the creation of real positrons when an electron escapes a black hole.
  • Another participant distinguishes between virtual positrons and real positrons, indicating that Hawking radiation is derived from virtual particle pairs, with only one becoming a real particle.
  • There is a counter-claim that the calculations of Hawking radiation do not involve virtual particle pairs, suggesting a different understanding of the process.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express disagreement regarding the nature of antimatter's mass, with competing views on whether it is positive or negative. The discussion remains unresolved, with no consensus reached on the interpretations of Hawking radiation and its implications for antimatter.

Contextual Notes

Some claims rely on interpretations of black hole physics and Hawking radiation that may not align with established calculations or definitions. The discussion reflects varying levels of understanding and acceptance of these concepts.

MikeL#
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Black holes suggest anti-matter has negative matter but is this true?
I think anti-matter has positive mass - e.g. a positron and electron annihilate giving off 0.5MeV + 0.5MeV photons where these photons have a huge positive energy. If the positron had negative mass then there would be no 1.0MeV of photon energy created.
But when 'explaining' evaporating black holes (e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawking_radiation#Overview)- matter [e.g. electron] and corresponding anti-matter [positron] are created out of 'the vacuum', If the electron is ejected, then the positron is absorbed in the black hole which loses mass. In this case the positron mass is negative.
So does anti-matter have positive or negative mass-energy or both?
 
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MikeL# said:
Black holes suggest anti-matter has negative matter
They do not.
MikeL# said:
I think anti-matter has positive mass
That is the expectation of basically everyone.
MikeL# said:
But when 'explaining' evaporating black holes (e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawking_radiation#Overview)- matter [e.g. electron] and corresponding anti-matter [positron] are created out of 'the vacuum'
That is a problematic pop-science description, not the actual physics.
If an electron escapes, there is no positron involved at all.
 
A virtual positron is not the same thing as a positron. Hawking radiation comes from virtual particle pairs, of which only one of which becomes a real particle.
 
newjerseyrunner said:
Hawking radiation comes from virtual particle pairs
It does not. If you check the actual calculations, there is no virtual particle pair involved.
 
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