Matter/antimatter collisons between "unlike" particles?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the interactions between matter and antimatter, specifically focusing on the collision of a proton with an antineutron. Participants explore the potential outcomes of such collisions, including the creation of unusual nuclei and the possibility of partial annihilation with leftover quarks and antiquarks.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the outcomes of a proton and antineutron collision, suggesting possibilities such as the creation of a short-lived nucleus or partial annihilation with leftover quarks and antiquarks.
  • Another participant asserts that a proton and an antineutron would annihilate similarly to proton-antiproton or neutron-antineutron interactions, producing pions, with a specific mention of charge conservation affecting the number of positive and negative pions produced.
  • It is noted that other particle combinations can lead to different results, including scenarios where no annihilation occurs, such as antiprotons and electrons repelling each other electromagnetically.
  • A participant acknowledges their previous search for information on the topic and expresses a desire for the thread to be deleted, indicating a potential redundancy in the discussion.
  • Another participant suggests that the thread should remain as is, implying that the discussion may still hold value.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the outcomes of proton-antineutron collisions, with differing views on the nature of annihilation and the potential for other results. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the specifics of these interactions.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about particle interactions and conservation laws are present, but these are not fully explored or agreed upon. The discussion reflects varying interpretations of the outcomes based on different particle combinations.

Rob Stow
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Just about everything I have read about antimatter talks about proton/antiproton, electron/antielectron, and neutron/antineutron annihilation.

But what happens if, for example, a proton and an antineutron collide? Would a weird nucleus be created or would there be a partial annihilation with some leftover quarks and antiquarks? Other outcomes? It is easy to imagine a simple process where the antineutron in a short-lived nucleus undergoes beta decay and the resulting antiproton annihilates the proton ... but does that HAVE to happen?
 
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This question gets asked frequently, and you should find various threads discussing it with the search function.

A proton and an antineutron would annihilate very similar to proton plus antiproton or neutron plus antineutron: They produce a few pions. Due to charge conservation, the symmetric annihilation produces as many positive as negative pions, while proton plus antineutron produces one positive pion more than negative pions.

Other combinations can lead to other results, or even no annihilation (e.g. antiprotons and electrons: they just repel each other electromagnetically, nothing else happens).
 
mfb said:
This question gets asked frequently, and you should find various threads discussing it with the search function.

A proton and an antineutron would annihilate very similar to proton plus antiproton or neutron plus antineutron: They produce a few pions. Due to charge conservation, the symmetric annihilation produces as many positive as negative pions, while proton plus antineutron produces one positive pion more than negative pions.

Other combinations can lead to other results, or even no annihilation (e.g. antiprotons and electrons: they just repel each other electromagnetically, nothing else happens).
 
Thanks for your reply. I finally have a day off to read up more on this and this time my search found those pre-existing threads on this topic ... no idea I could have bungled the search I did last week before starting this new thread. Maybe I'll get lucky and a moderator will just delete this thread?
 
Just let it stay as it is.
 

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