Islame Elkaideyene

Antimatter: Storage and Applications

Started Dec. 16, 2022

Abstract or project description

Antimatter is the opposite of ordinary matter, having opposite electric charges. Physicist Paul Dirac first proposed the concept in the 1920s, and the discovery of the first antiparticle, the positron, followed in the 1930s. Scientists study antimatter to better understand the universe and its properties, as well as to investigate its potential use as an energy source and in medical applications, such as cancer treatments. The reason why antimatter is considered an energy source is that, when it comes into contact with normal matter, it annihilates and releases a large amount of energy. However, creating and storing antimatter is challenging and costly, with one of the main difficulties being containment, as it annihilates upon contact with normal matter. In this paper, we focus on current containment methods, including the Penning trap and the Antihydrogen trap, evaluating their efficiency, safety, and energy requirements. Furthermore, we will investigate alternative methods of containment, such as the use of a superconducting field, and assess their potential. Ultimately, understanding how to contain antimatter is important for a variety of applications, such as medical treatments, energy production, and space travel.