Chapter 44, Problem 1DQ

To determine

To explain: The possibility for the existence of antiatoms in some part of the universe, their detection, and the problems might arise if we actually did go there.

Answer to Problem 1DQ

There is possibility for the existence of antiatoms in the universe and their detection is not possible since their spectra will be the same as that of corresponding matter and the matter antimatter annihilation will result the destruction of our body if we actually go to a region of antimatter.

Explanation of Solution

The antiparticles bind with one another to form antimatter as exactly same as the ordinary particle bind to form the matter. If a positron and an antiproton bind together, the result will be an antihydrogen which can be considered the smallest antiatom. The physical principles indicate that in the universe, complex antimatter atomic nuclei composed of antiprotons and antineutrons are possible, as well as when they surrounded by positrons, the existence of antiatoms corresponding to the known chemical elements is also possible.

A specific method for the detection of the antimatter is not known since, if the neutral antiatoms do exist, their behavior will be exactly same as the normal atoms. So any spectra of an atom that given by the light that emit which composed of photons will be the same as the spectra that given by the antiatom, which composed of antiphotons. This is only because photon is its own antiparticle. So we cannot detect the antiatoms by identifying the light they emit as composed of antiphotons. The only way to identify the presence of antimatter is through their annihilation with matter. If we actually did go to the antimatter region the problem that might occur is that the annihilation of matter in our body with the antimatter in that region and thereby the complete destruction of our body.

Conclusion:

Thus, there is possibility for the existence of antiatoms in the universe and their detection is not possible since their spectra will be the same as that of corresponding matter and the matter antimatter annihilation will result the destruction of our body if we actually go to a region of antimatter.