Antimatter - Beatriz Gato-Rivera Kartoniert (TB)

Antimatter is one of the most fascinating aspects of Particle Physics and matter-antimatter annihilation the most energetic process in the universe. If they existed everyday objects made of antimatter would look exactly like those made of ordinary matter as would antimatter stars. We live surrounded by antimatter since showers of matter and antimatter particles fall incessantly on the Earth's surface some of them penetrating our buildings. Furthermore many things around us - bananas for example - actually emit antielectrons. This book first introduces the essentials of particle physics and the nature of particles and antiparticles. It describes the discovery of antimatter particles and explains how they are produced where they are found and how antistars could be spotted it also introduces cosmic rays particle accelerators dark matter dark energy and nuclear reactions in stars. The enigma of the matter-antimatter asymmetry in the Universe is discussed as are the very real applications of antimatter in hospitals in industry and in cutting-edge research and technology Non-specialist readers will find here a wealth of fascinating and accessible information to deepen their appreciation of antimatter.