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ANTI-MATTER
From
xxxxx
Planet Earth
Solar system
Milky Way.
xxxxx
Planet Y
Andromeda galaxy.
We will not write the last line of the ‘To address’ in the letter unless we have intergalactic friends. But, traveling galactic distances or producing sufficient electrical energy all over the world for generations would be one of the greatest events of this science era. Imagine if we can travel galactic distances or think if we can produce sufficient electrical energy all over the world for generations that would be one of the greatest events of this science era. This can be made possible with anti-matter.
The antiparticle of
electron is positron. Similarly, the antiparticle of proton
is antiproton and that of neutron is antineutron. But, this
draws a question “How an antiparticle exists for a neutron as neutron is charge
less?” In general, a particle and antiparticle have same properties except that
of charge. So, they cannot be distinguished with such ease. But, in case of
neutron, both neutron and antineutron can be distinguished based
on the baryon number. The baryon number is positive for neutron and negative
for anti-neutron.
Baryon number B = 1/3(no. of quarks-no. of anti-quarks)
But the problem with anti-matter is that it is highly unstable. When anti-hydrogen atom was created it lasted for just 40 nanoseconds. In 2011, antimatter atoms were trapped for 1000 seconds.1 gram of antimatter is sufficient to lighten entire New York for a day. It requires 100 billion dollars to produce 1 milli gram of antimatter. If we can capture naturally occurring anti-matter, it can reduce the upfront production costs. If it can be stored for longer time, it can undoubtedly stand as a symbol for man’s ingenuity.
Baryon number B = 1/3(no. of quarks-no. of anti-quarks)
 |
| Crab Nebula while emitting Anti-Matter. |
When antimatter combines with matter, annihilation takes place
i.e., pure energy is released. We know that a proton and an electron combine to
form hydrogen atom. Similarly, if anti-proton combines with positron
anti-hydrogen is formed. If a positron and an electron combine together it will
form antimatter. Instead of positron, antiproton can also be used.
The energy released when antiparticle combines with particle is 10
billion times that of the energy released when normal hydrogen combines
with oxygen and 1000 times greater than nuclear fission and 300 times more than
nuclear fusion. The energy released by 1 kg of anti-matter is equivalent to the
energy released by 43 mega tonnes of TNT.
But the problem with anti-matter is that it is highly unstable. When anti-hydrogen atom was created it lasted for just 40 nanoseconds. In 2011, antimatter atoms were trapped for 1000 seconds.1 gram of antimatter is sufficient to lighten entire New York for a day. It requires 100 billion dollars to produce 1 milli gram of antimatter. If we can capture naturally occurring anti-matter, it can reduce the upfront production costs. If it can be stored for longer time, it can undoubtedly stand as a symbol for man’s ingenuity.
