Antimatter

In this post, we will be understanding something quite fascinating- antimatter. 

Basically, it is the mirror image of matter. As you must know that in the nucleus of the atom, lie neutrons, which have a neutral charge and protons which have a positive charge. In the orbits around the nucleus lie electrons, which have a negative charge. Electrons and protons are equal in number, neutralizing the effect of each other.

But in antimatter, it is the complete opposite. In the nucleus lie antiprotons which have a negative charge and in the orbits lie the positrons (anti electrons) which have a positive charge. 

When antimatter and matter come in contact with each other, they both annihilate each other, leaving nothing but energy. It is believed that during the Big Bang, equal amounts of matter. But then a question arises. If equal amounts of matter and antimatter were created, they must have annihilated each other, and had left energy behind. But then why do we have all of this matter around us, while antimatter isn't so common.

Why has matter (Baryons) dominated antimatter?

This is what we call the Baryon asymmetry. We do not yet have any solid explanation behind this, but we do have some theories that might be some help. 

The most widely accepted theory is that of baryogenesis. This is a hypothetical phenomenon, according to which a tiny amount of surplus matter was created. so when matter and antimatter did annihilate, this tiny around survived and that is what everything we see around us is constituted of.

I hope you found this helpful. 

If you have any suggestions feel free to drop them down. 

See you next Sunday!