Matter-antimatter basis for dark energy

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the potential relationship between matter-antimatter interactions and the phenomenon of dark energy, specifically considering whether a repulsive force between primordial matter and antimatter could contribute to the universe's expansion. The scope includes theoretical implications and speculative reasoning regarding gravitational forces and experimental verification.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Debate/contested, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that an exotic repulsion between matter and antimatter could explain the universe's expansion, suggesting calculations based on redshift variations.
  • Others argue that the interaction between matter and antimatter is characterized by normal gravitational attraction, not repulsion.
  • A participant questions the certainty of the gravitational attraction claim, highlighting the lack of experimental verification and seeking clarification on the basis for this assertion.
  • Another participant suggests that the inertial behavior of particles, such as positrons and electrons, might provide insight into the gravitational behavior of antimatter, noting similarities in mass-energy relationships.
  • A link to external content is provided, which is described as inconclusive regarding the matter-antimatter gravitational interaction.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express disagreement regarding the nature of the force between matter and antimatter, with some supporting the idea of repulsion and others maintaining that attraction is the established understanding. The discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations concerning the assumptions made about gravitational interactions and the reliance on experimental evidence, which remains unverified in this context.

Loren Booda
Messages
3,115
Reaction score
4
Could the impetus for the ever-expanding universe lie in an exotic, long range repulsion between primordial matter and antimatter (as in the term cosmon)? If so, it might be possible to calculate the abundance of antimatter at a given distance and direction by variations in redshift from the Hubble law.
 
Space news on Phys.org
Force between matter and antimatter is normal gravitational attraction, not repulsion.
 
mathman said:
Force between matter and antimatter is normal gravitational attraction, not repulsion.
How do you know that for sure to be true? :confused:

As far as I know we have no experimental verification for that. Am I wrong?
 
Last edited:
MeJennifer said:
How do you know that for sure to be true? :confused:
Can we infer it from the inertial behavior of mass - e.g. of the positron and electron, which are the same in an acclerator at the same energy?

I believe that anti-protons behave the same as protons in accelerator, in terms of mass-energy relationship - as far as we can tell.
 
http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/ParticleAndNuclear/antimatterFall.html
Seems inconclusive to me.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Similar threads

Undergrad Does dark-energy require a source of energy?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
High School Dark Energy, Dark Matter and the Speed of Light
  • · Replies 23 ·
Replies
23
Views
4K
Graduate Models without dark energy
  • · Replies 29 ·
Replies
29
Views
4K
High School Matter-antimatter asymmetry - a simple explanation?
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
5K
Undergrad Is dark energy pushing or is it a mirror concept of gravity?
  • · Replies 31 ·
2
Replies
31
Views
4K
Undergrad Can dark matter explain dark energy?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
High School Estimates — True Size of the Universe?
  • · Replies 33 ·
2
Replies
33
Views
8K
High School How do the candidates for Dark Energy 'work'?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Graduate Black hole mass coupled to expansion -- astrophysical source of dark energy?
  • · Replies 134 ·
5
Replies
134
Views
12K
High School Conflict between the conservation of matter and the rapid expansion of our universe
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
2K