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antimatter
Material with properties equivalent to those of matter but with subatomic particles' quantum properties reversed; for example, particles' charges are opposite. Antimatter happens to be rare in our universe. However, it is believed that in the Big Bang equal quantities of matter and antimatter were created. The fact that the universe now contains matter and not antimatter is known as the matter-antimatter asymmetry. Understanding how this asymmetry was produced is a major goal in particle physics and astrophysics.
When particles and antiparticles meet, mutual annihilation takes place.
Related entry
• antimatter propulsion
Related category
• PARTICLE PHYSICS
Archived news
Getting a grip on antimatter (Aug 31, 2004)
External site
Antimatter at CERN (European particle accelerator)
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