The discussion revolves around the implications of antimatter collisions with the human body, particularly focusing on the effects of such interactions and their relevance in medical imaging technology like Positron Emission Tomography (PET). The scope includes theoretical considerations, practical applications, and hypothetical scenarios regarding exposure to antimatter.
Participants express uncertainty regarding the effects of large quantities of antiparticles, with some agreeing that gradual exposure leads to radiation poisoning, while others speculate about the potential for more catastrophic outcomes with rapid exposure. No consensus is reached on the overall implications of such exposures.
Participants highlight the dependence on exposure rates and quantities, indicating that the discussion is limited by these variables and the complexities of radiation effects.
This discussion may be of interest to those studying physics, medical imaging technology, radiation effects, and theoretical implications of antimatter interactions.
What would happen to a person if she was submitted to a large number of antiparticles? Would her body disappear? If so, why doesn't it happen to us since we are subjected to a large number of antiparticles that come to the Earth such as the cosmic rays, solar wind, etc...Dale said:Such collisions of the human body with antimatter are used routinely in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) a standard medical imaging technology. In PET an unstable tracer is injected which emits positrons, which are antimatter electrons. These positrons annihilate with nearby electrons, and produce photons which are detected by the PET system.
It depends on how large a number you are talking about, and how rapid the exposure is. For gradual exposure you will die of radiation poisoning long before disappearing. For large rapid exposures think about nuclear weapons.kent davidge said:What would happen to a person if she was submitted to a large number of antiparticles? Would her body disappear?
Ok. Thank you.Dale said:It depends on how large a number you are talking about, and how rapid the exposure is. For gradual exposure you will die of radiation poisoning long before disappearing. For large rapid exposures think about nuclear weapons.