How much energy does annihilation take?

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SUMMARY

The discussion clarifies that mixing matter with antimatter does not require energy; rather, the challenge lies in preventing their interaction. When matter and antimatter come into contact, annihilation occurs spontaneously, releasing energy as described by Einstein's equation E=mc². The primary concern is the energy needed to keep antimatter isolated from matter, typically achieved through magnetic confinement techniques. Thus, while annihilation releases energy, the creation and maintenance of antimatter necessitate energy input for containment.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Einstein's E=mc² equation
  • Knowledge of particle physics, specifically matter and antimatter interactions
  • Familiarity with magnetic confinement techniques
  • Basic principles of energy conservation in physics
NEXT STEPS
  • Research magnetic confinement methods for antimatter, such as Penning traps
  • Explore the implications of E=mc² in particle physics
  • Study the principles of annihilation reactions and their energy outputs
  • Investigate current advancements in antimatter production and storage technologies
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, researchers in particle physics, and anyone interested in the principles of energy interactions in matter-antimatter systems will benefit from this discussion.

Karimspencer
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Many people say that when mixing matter with anti-matter , energy is released according to e=mc2 however how much energy does it take to mix matter with antimatter which leads to annihilation .
 
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It does not require energy. In the case of charged particles, they even attract each other as they have opposite charge.
 
The problem with matter and antimatter is not the amount of energy you need to expend to get them to come together - the problem is the amount of energy you need to expend to get them to keep them apart.

Both matter and antimatter will happily float around and come into physical contact with each other (including the walls of the container or any air in it), whereupon annihilation will occur spontaneously. To stop this from happening the moment you create any amount of anti-matter, you must devise a way of keeping it away from matter. This is usually done with magnetic bottles. Which require energy.
 

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