New finding with matter/anti-matter?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around recent findings related to matter and antimatter, specifically whether they cancel each other out completely or if there is a residual amount of matter left over. The scope includes theoretical implications and interpretations of experimental results from Fermilab.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that recent results indicate matter and antimatter do not cancel each other out completely, leaving some matter remaining.
  • Others clarify that a specific reaction previously thought to produce equal amounts of matter and antimatter actually produces slightly more matter than antimatter.
  • It is noted that when matter and antimatter meet, they annihilate completely, converting back into energy.
  • A participant references a book discussing the mathematics behind why a small amount of matter remains in the universe after the Big Bang.
  • There is a request for sources to support claims made in the discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing interpretations of the findings, with some agreeing on the existence of residual matter while others emphasize the annihilation process. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the implications of these findings.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the discussion regarding the assumptions made about the reactions and the definitions of matter and antimatter. The references to specific literature and experimental results are not fully explored.

CosmicCrunch
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I didn't read into it too much but supposedly they found that matter and antimatter don't cancel each other out completely? There's still some matter left over?
 
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CosmicCrunch said:
I didn't read into it too much but supposedly they found that matter and antimatter don't cancel each other out completely? There's still some matter left over?

OK, CC; how about posting the link so we don't have to speculate on what you think you read.
 
If you're referring to recent results from Fermilab, what they found is that a certain kind of reaction which was thought to produce matter and antimatter in equal quantities actually doesn't; it produces a little bit more matter than antimatter. As far as we know, it's still true that if you put one particle of matter together with the corresponding particle of antimatter, they will annihilate completely.
 
diazona said:
If you're referring to recent results from Fermilab, what they found is that a certain kind of reaction which was thought to produce matter and antimatter in equal quantities actually doesn't; it produces a little bit more matter than antimatter. As far as we know, it's still true that if you put one particle of matter together with the corresponding particle of antimatter, they will annihilate completely.

You are correct, they convert back into the energy that they were created from in the first place. The big bang released the energy latent in the singularity ( we don't have a good theory of what triggered it) but the energy formed matter and antimatter as it spread out. Most of the matter and antimatter annihated each other leaving the cosmic background radiation throughout the universe. In the book 'Antimatter' by Frank Close of Oxford U he describe the mathematics as to why a minute amount of matter remained which forms the existing matter of the universe. It' very worthwhile reading.
 
Creator said:
OK, CC; how about posting the link so we don't have to speculate on what you think you read.

thanx to you guys who actually tried to answer my question instead of leaving a sarcastic comment since i didn't have a chance at that point in time to actually look up where I found it. But now that i do have time Creator let me show what i was talking about, you guys are right tho now that i actaully read into it it does say that

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/18/science/space/18cosmos.html
 
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