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, 201115 yr by sheldoncooper

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).

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, 201115 yr by sheldoncooper

That's kind of what I meant, yes.

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

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

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

It's stable; same as the electron.