What Happens When Differing Quantities of Matter and Antimatter Annihilate?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the annihilation of differing quantities of matter and antimatter, specifically examining the outcomes of such interactions, including the types of particles that may remain and the energy released. The scope includes theoretical considerations and speculative scenarios related to particle physics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether a carbon atom of matter and a boron atom of antimatter would result in a hydrogen atom and energy after annihilation.
  • Another participant suggests that significant energy would be released, likely preventing the formation of a stable atom, but posits that some matter would remain assuming complete annihilation.
  • A third participant discusses hadron number conservation, proposing that annihilation of carbon-12 and anti-boron-11 would leave one proton and one electron, while carbon-12 and anti-boron-10 could yield two protons and two electrons, with a small chance of producing a deuteron.
  • One participant challenges the conservation of hadron number, referencing a decay process where one hadron produces two pions, and later corrects themselves to clarify that baryon number is conserved.
  • Another participant raises a question about the conversion of matter to energy and whether energy can be converted back to matter, expressing uncertainty about specific scenarios where this might occur.
  • A participant inquires if the remaining matter would absorb the energy released during annihilation.
  • One participant reiterates the conservation of baryon number and emphasizes that the only stable hadron is a proton.
  • A later reply mentions Fermilab's production of protons and antiprotons from energy, suggesting a practical example of energy converting into matter.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants exhibit disagreement regarding the conservation of hadron number and the outcomes of annihilation events. There are multiple competing views on the nature of the remaining matter and energy after annihilation, and the discussion remains unresolved on several points.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the assumptions made about particle interactions, the definitions of conservation laws, and the specific conditions under which matter-energy conversion might occur. Some mathematical steps and scenarios remain unexplored or unresolved.

trini
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i have a question, if i took matter and antimatter of differing quantities, so for example, i took a carbon atom made up of matter and a boron atom made of antimatter, when they annhialate, would i be left with a hydrogen atom made of matter plus energy?
 
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With that much energy released you probably would not wind with an atom at all, but yes, in the end there would be some matter left over and a lot of energy, assuming complete annihilation of the antimatter.
 
The only stable hadron (in isolation) is a proton. Hadron number is conserved (as far as we know). With carbon-12 and anti-boron-11, assuming complete annihilation, you will have one proton and one electron left, after the dust settles. With carbon-12 and anti-boron-10, two protons and two electrons, with a very small probability of one deuteron.
Bob S
 
Bob S said:
Hadron number is conserved (as far as we know).

No it's not. \rho \rightarrow \pi \pi. One goes in, two go out.
 
just out of interest if matter can be converted to energy can energy be converted to matter. I was asked this and i think the answer is yes but i can't think of a situation where it would happen
 
will the remaining matter absorb the energy?
 
Vanadium 50 said:
No it's not. \rho \rightarrow \pi \pi. One goes in, two go out.
Sorry- I meant baryon number is conserved. The only stable hadron (in isolation) is a proton.
bob s
 
matt_crouch said:
just out of interest if matter can be converted to energy can energy be converted to matter. I was asked this and i think the answer is yes but i can't think of a situation where it would happen
Fermilab is creating protons and antiprotons at the rate of ~3 x 1011 from energy per hour. See left panel in
http://www-bd.fnal.gov/notifyservlet/www?project=outside
Right now, Fermilab is creating about 28 milliamps (circulating current) of antiprotons per hour.
Bob S
 

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