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Frank Close is the author of Antimatter.

Science

Antimatter Book Summary - Antimatter Book explained in key points

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Antimatter summary

Name: Antimatter
Rating: 4.5 (297 reviews)
Author: Frank Close

Frank Close

A must-read classic of modern science

4.5 (297 ratings)

21 mins

Brief summary

'Antimatter' by Frank Close details the discovery, study, and use of antimatter in modern physics, encompassing the history and future of this exotic substance.

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Space Physics

Table of Contents

Antimatter
Summary of 6 key ideas

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Key idea 1 of 6

What’s in it for me? A down-to-earth look at the universe.

From quarks and neutrinos to black holes and white light, the field of advanced physics is filled with complicated concepts. But none is more mysterious and misunderstood than antimatter.

Luckily, these blinks are here to explain this cosmic enigma in down-to-earth terms. They’ll untangle the complicated science behind this elusive substance without getting bogged down in messy math and knotty equations.

This accessible overview takes you from the world’s largest particle accelerator, buried deep in the Alps, to the outer reaches of the known universe. Along the way, you’ll learn what makes antimatter so different from everyday substances and why it continues to confound and fascinate scientists to this day.

In these blinks, you’ll learn

when a quark is not a quark;
how making matter is like digging a hole; and
what secrets are hidden in the Alps.

Antimatter is the mirror image of normal matter.

June 30, 1908. Far east of Moscow, deep in the remote region of Siberia, something astounding happens. Out of nowhere, an earth-shattering boom. A blast so powerful, it’s visible 700 kilometers away. A heat so intense, it melts silverware 60 kilometers away.

This is the Tunguska Event. This massive, mysterious explosion releases a burst of energy comparable to a nuclear detonation or meteor strike. Yet, at the time, atomic bombs are decades away and no meteorite is ever found at the site. So what caused this catastrophe?

One possibility is antimatter. When this eerie, elusive substance comes into contact with everyday matter, it releases energy on a cosmic scale. Just one kilogram could kick off a reaction 100 times more powerful than nuclear fusion. It sounds like science fiction, but it is very, very real.

The key message here is: Antimatter is the mirror image of normal matter.

So, what is antimatter? To answer this question, it’s best to start with normal matter. Normal matter is made up of tiny particles called atoms. These atoms are made up of even tinier electrically charged particles called protons, neutrons, and electrons. In the center of each atom are protons, which have a positive charge, and neutrons, which have a neutral charge. Orbiting the center are electrons, which have a negative charge. A simple atom like hydrogen has a single positive proton at its center and a single negative electron orbiting it.

Put simply, antimatter has exactly the same structure, but it’s inverted. An antihydrogen atom is a mirror image of a normal hydrogen atom. It has a single negatively charged proton, or antiproton, at its center, and a positively charged electron, called a positron, orbiting it.

Matter and antimatter need each other to exist, despite being opposites. Why? Well, Einstein's theory of relativity explains that all forms of matter are essentially energy trapped in a physical form – so an electron is pure energy distilled into a particle. But energy itself is neutral; while it can change forms, it can’t be created or destroyed. So when it congeals into a negatively charged electron, it must also produce the inverse: a positively charged proton.

It’s a bit like digging a hole – to delve deeper into the ground, you must always pile up an equal but opposite mound of dirt. However, if matter and antimatter ever come into contact, they eliminate each other. And this elimination releases the huge amount of energy trapped in each substance in one massive gamma-ray burst.

Quote: “With antimatter, the negative image of matter, we make contact with the gods of creation.”

After Dirac theorized positrons, other scientists actually found them.

Paul Dirac didn’t talk much. In fact, the English physicist could sit through entire dinner parties without speaking a word. But in 1928, he asked a question that upended the field of physics: What if negative energy actually existed?

For years, scientists knew Einstein’s theories left open the possibility of negative energy, but only a few took the idea seriously – including Dirac. In a paper packed with dense mathematics, he argued that what we see as an empty vacuum is actually a deep, calm sea of negative energy. Moreover, he claimed that if a burst of normal energy disturbed that sea, it could produce a negative energy electron – that is, a positively charged electron, or positron.

The subatomic world is much more diverse than it seems.

There are three stars of the subatomic stage: the proton, the neutron, and the electron. These are the famous faces that everyone can name. But in truth there is a much larger cast of characters – though some of these microscopic actors can be incredibly shy.

Luckily, throughout the 1950s and ’60s, scientists developed new technologies to find and identify the more elusive players in the field of physics. Using advanced particle accelerators like the BeVatron at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, researchers smashed atoms together at increasing speeds.

Our understanding of antimatter relies on advanced technologies.

Picture an idyllic Swiss landscape. Clear blue skies look down on verdant meadows dotted with wildflowers. The pristine, snow-capped Alps loom large in the distance. It doesn’t get more peaceful. Yet just below this calm countryside is another world – a world of super-charged beams and high-energy explosions.

That’s because buried beneath this pastoral scene is the European Organization for Nuclear Research, or CERN. This massive research facility is home to some of the most advanced technology humans have ever created, including the Large Electron Positron Collider and its successor, the even more powerful Large Hadron Collider.

Science is still learning why matter is more prevalent than antimatter.

Imagine you’re playing a game of chess against an opponent whose skill matches yours perfectly. In fact, you and your rival are so similar that every move you make is mirrored to a T. You take his white knight, he takes your black knight. He takes your white pawn, you take his black pawn. In the end, the board would be left completely empty, right?

Now, consider this: matter and antimatter are also perfect mirrors of each other. In theory, the big bang created equal amounts of both. So, given their apparent symmetry and tendency for mutual annihilation, the substances should have canceled each other out, leaving nothing.

Practical uses of antimatter are still out of reach.

It’s March, 2004. Kenneth Edwards steps to the podium at NASA’s Institute for Advanced Concepts conference in Arlington, Virginia. After greeting the audience, he begins talking about antimatter. In solemn and serious tones, he explains that just a billionth of a gram could generate a blast large enough to level a city.

The audience is horrified. The speech makes headlines around the world. What’s the cause of all this alarm? Well, Edwards is the director of the Air Force’s revolutionary munitions team. His job is to help the US military develop cutting-edge weapons of war. People are scared that a terrifying new arms race is on the horizon.

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What is Antimatter about?

Antimatter (2010) is a detailed look at one of the most mysterious and misunderstood topics in physics: antimatter. This accessible guide explains what antimatter is, how it works, and what it can teach us about the universe.

Antimatter Review

Antimatter (2009) by Frank Close is a fascinating exploration of the mysterious substance that holds the potential to reshape our understanding of the universe. Here's why this book is worth reading:

By delving into the scientific discoveries surrounding antimatter, it offers a mind-bending journey that challenges our conventional understanding of reality.
With clear explanations and engaging storytelling, Close brings complex concepts to life, making them accessible to readers of all backgrounds.
Through exploring the practical applications of antimatter, the book highlights its potential for revolutionizing fields such as energy production and medicine, sparking curiosity and excitement.

Best quote from Antimatter

Antimatter could only ever become a practical source of energy if we first found large amounts somewhere, analogous to oil deposits on earth.

—Frank Close

Who should read Antimatter?

Stargazers curious about the makeup of the universe
Sci-fi fans interested in the facts behind their favorite fiction
Anyone who has ever felt flummoxed by advanced physics

About the Author

Frank Close is a physics professor at Oxford University, a Fellow of Exeter College, and the former head of the Theoretical Physics Division at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. He’s also the author of the best-selling books Lucifer's Legacy and Eclipse.

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