"Antimatter atom trapped for the first time, say scientists"
17-11-2010, 19:15
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#1
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"Antimatter atom trapped for the first time, say scientists"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11773791
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Originally Posted by BBC
Antimatter atoms have been trapped for the first time, scientists say.
Researchers at Cern, home of the LHC, have held 38 antihydrogen atoms in place, each for a fraction of a second.
While antihydrogen has been produced before, it is instantly destroyed in a flash of light when it encounters normal matter.
The team, reporting in Nature, says the ability to study such antimatter atoms will allow previously impossible tests of fundamental tenets of physics.
The current "standard model" of physics holds that each particle - protons, electrons, neutrons and a zoo of more exotic particles - has its mirror image antiparticle.
The antiparticle of the electron, for example, is the positron, and is used in an imaging technique of growing popularity known as positron emission tomography.
However, one of the great mysteries in physics is why our world is made up overwhelmingly of matter, rather than antimatter; the laws of physics make no distinction between the two and equal amounts should have been created at the Universe's birth.
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If only they had some dilithium crystals.
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17-11-2010, 19:20
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#2
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What hast thou done?
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Re: "Antimatter atom trapped for the first time, say scientists"
Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt D
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The apparatus could nae take it...
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17-11-2010, 21:04
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#3
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Re: "Antimatter atom trapped for the first time, say scientists"
i remember watching a program years ago on the science behind startrek.
A research lab managed to create some Antimatter and couldnt contrain it and caused an explosion demolishing much of the building.
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17-11-2010, 21:25
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#4
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Re: "Antimatter atom trapped for the first time, say scientists"
Can't wait to see if our resident boffin downquark has anything to say.. 
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17-11-2010, 21:54
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#5
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Re: "Antimatter atom trapped for the first time, say scientists"
Quote:
Originally Posted by Maggy J
Can't wait to see if our resident boffin downquark has anything to say.. |
the interesting thing about this experiment is that they succeeded in 'creating' actual atoms comprised of antimatter & kept them stable for a significant time (even if that is only tenths of a second) - and yes, I also would welcome a comment from downquark - something strange or even charming 
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