Matter and Antimatter

Matter and Antimatter

1. Photons

   • EM waves released in packets of energy - photons
   • Energy depends on frequency
     • E = hf
     • E = hc / f
   • Has no mass - travels at speed of light

2. EM radiation spectrum

3. Annihilation

   • Particle and antiparticle meet and mass is converted to energy (photons)
   • Both have rest energy, Eo
   • Both need minimum energy Emin = hf

4. Pair Production

   • Only happens if photon has enough energy
     • Near a nucleus to conserve momentum
     • Gamma photons have enough energy
   • Usually electron-positron pair - low rest mass
   • Particle tracks are curved as magnetic field present. Opposite directions as opposite charges
   • Energy (photon) gets converted into matter and antimatter

5. Particle Interactions

   • Gravitational Force
     • Acts between all masses and infinite distances
     • V. important for large masses -stars
   • Electromagnetic Force
     • Charged particles
     • Virtual photon - exists for short time
   • Weak Nuclear Force
     • All types of particles
     • W bosons - non zero rest mass short range, +/-
   • Strong Nuclear Force
     • Only hadrons
     • Pions / gluons
     • Strongest but shortest range

6. Classification

   • Hadrons
     • Baryons
       • Protons Neutrons
       • Decay into protons
     • Mesons
       • Kaons Pions
   • Leptons
     • Neutrino Electron Muon
     • Don't feel strong force
       • Interact through weak/EM
     • Fundamental particles

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