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Antimatter, the opposite of matter, contains antiparticles with the same mass but opposite charges. When matter and antimatter meet, they annihilate and release energy. Antimatter is created artificially in labs and occurs briefly in nature. It has important applications in medical science and radiation technology. It could potentially be a renewable energy source in the future.
Antimatter is at the heart of science fiction novels and shows like Star Trek, but in reality its existence in our universe is not fictional at all. As the name suggests, this substance is the opposite of matter and was discovered in the first half of the 20th century. It continues to intrigue both physicists and science fiction fans.
Matter, the substance of which all physical things are composed, is made of atoms which are themselves composed of particles such as protons, electrons, and neutrons. Similarly, antimatter contains antiparticles called antiprotons, positrons, and antineutrons, respectively. Particles and antiparticles have the same mass but opposite charges; for example, an electron is negatively charged and its opposite, the positron, is a positively charged electron. Antimatter is a generic term referring to the culmination of these antiparticles.
When matter and antimatter come into contact with each other, they are both annihilated. This releases a large amount of energy. Very generally, the big bang theory of the creation of the universe involves the large-scale encounter of matter and antimatter.
Antimatter is not significant on Earth unless it is artificially created in a physics laboratory or similar environment. Scientists have been able to create relatively small amounts in the form of antihydrogen. It occurs briefly in nature due to cosmic rays penetrating the atmosphere and breaking down radioactive materials. Within a matter of nanoseconds, antiparticles and particles meet and are destroyed, which is why antiparticles are not very common on Earth. In space, however, it is much more common and observable through the use of finely tuned instruments.
The ability to artificially create antimatter is very important in medical science, especially in PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scans. A PET scan uses the byproducts of electron and positron annihilation – gamma photons – to test for and diagnose cancer. Antimatter is also used in other forms of radiation technology.
In theory, antimatter could be used as a fully efficient, renewable fuel source. The time, effort and cost to create it, however, currently outweigh the benefit of the energy it could potentially produce. In the future, when it is better understood, it could in fact become a plausible solution to our current energy crisis as it is linked to environmental degradation.
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