Antimatter
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| - | '''''Angels & Demons''''' is a [[bestselling]] [[mystery fiction|mystery]] [[novel]] by American author [[Dan Brown]]. The novel revolves around the quest of fictional Harvard [[symbologist]] [[Robert Langdon]] to unravel the mysteries of a [[secret society]] called the [[Illuminati]], and preclude a plot from annihilating the [[Vatican City]] using the destructive [[antimatter]]. The story recounts the conflict between science and religion that brought the establishment of the Illuminati, and, after centuries of non-existence, the group have thought to have resurfaced for retribution against the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. | + | In [[particle physics]], '''antimatter''' is the extension of the concept of the [[antiparticle]] to [[matter]], where antimatter is composed of antiparticles in the same way that normal matter is composed of particles. For example, an [[antielectron]] (also called "positron") and an [[antiproton]] can form an [[antihydrogen]] atom in the same way that an electron and a proton form a ''normal matter'' hydrogen atom. Furthermore, mixing matter and antimatter can lead to the [[annihilation]] of both in the same way that mixing antiparticles and particles does, thus giving rise to high-energy [[photon]]s ([[gamma ray]]s) or other particle–antiparticle pairs. |
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| + | There is considerable speculation as to why the observable universe is apparently almost entirely matter, whether there exist other places that are almost entirely antimatter instead, and what might be possible if antimatter could be harnessed, but at this time the apparent [[baryon asymmetry|asymmetry of matter and antimatter]] in the [[visible universe]] is one of the greatest [[unsolved problems in physics]]. The process by which this asymmetry between particles and antiparticles developed is called [[baryogenesis]]. | ||
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| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | *[[Ambiplasma]] | ||
| + | *[[Particle accelerator]] | ||
| + | *[[Antiparticle]] | ||
| + | *[[Antihydrogen]] | ||
| + | *[[Gravitational interaction of antimatter]] | ||
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| - | Published in 2000, it introduces the character Robert Langdon, who is also the principal character of Brown's subsequent, better known novel ''[[The Da Vinci Code]]''. It also shares many stylistic elements with the latter, such as conspiracies of secret societies, a single-day time frame, and the Roman Catholic Church. Ancient history, architecture, and symbolism are heavily referenced throughout the novel. A [[Angels & Demons (film)|film adaptation of the same name]] is due for release on May 15, 2009. | ||
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In particle physics, antimatter is the extension of the concept of the antiparticle to matter, where antimatter is composed of antiparticles in the same way that normal matter is composed of particles. For example, an antielectron (also called "positron") and an antiproton can form an antihydrogen atom in the same way that an electron and a proton form a normal matter hydrogen atom. Furthermore, mixing matter and antimatter can lead to the annihilation of both in the same way that mixing antiparticles and particles does, thus giving rise to high-energy photons (gamma rays) or other particle–antiparticle pairs.
There is considerable speculation as to why the observable universe is apparently almost entirely matter, whether there exist other places that are almost entirely antimatter instead, and what might be possible if antimatter could be harnessed, but at this time the apparent asymmetry of matter and antimatter in the visible universe is one of the greatest unsolved problems in physics. The process by which this asymmetry between particles and antiparticles developed is called baryogenesis.
See also
