antimmater anihilation

[sheldoncooper]

hi

ive just started reading about antimatter

my question is quick: when the antimatter is created, will it only annihilate with it's original twin matter or can it annihilate any other matter?

Edited January 20, 2011 by sheldoncooper

[timo]

The simple answer is: any.

 

The more complicated answer is that "matter annihilates with anti-matter" is not exactly a correct statement but more like a lie for laymen or perhaps a rule of thumb. While an electron (matter) and an anti-electron (anti-matter) do indeed annihilate, this is not true for a proton (matter) and an anti-electron (anti-matter).

[sheldoncooper]

you mean an electron will not annihilate with a anti-proton because they are difference things but an electron will indeed annihilate an anti-electron as will a proton and an anti proton? if so, yeah i kinda got that, but thanks for the clearing up

regards

Edited January 20, 2011 by sheldoncooper

[timo]

That's kind of what I meant, yes.

[dragonstar57]

The simple answer is: any.

 

The more complicated answer is that "matter annihilates with anti-matter" is not exactly a correct statement but more like a lie for laymen or perhaps a rule of thumb. While an electron (matter) and an anti-electron (anti-matter) do indeed annihilate, this is not true for a proton (matter) and an anti-electron (anti-matter).

its not called a anti electron its called a positron

[timo]

It's called both. I've used the less fancy sounding term on purpose because it's clearer.

[alpha2cen]

Is the positron stable in the vacuum? Electrons are very stable in the vacuum, their half life is very very long.

[timo]

It's stable; same as the electron.