Particle physics
Antimatter
Matter's mirror image — particles with the same mass but opposite charge, such as the positron discovered in cosmic rays in 1932. When matter and antimatter meet they annihilate into pure energy. Antiparticles are produced in high-energy astrophysical environments and are detected in cosmic rays reaching the Earth.
Highlights
- ›Matter's mirror image — annihilates on contact
Related physics & astronomy
Across fundamental physics
Knowledge connections
- Associated withElementary Particles
- Associated withMatter–Antimatter Asymmetry
- Associated withCosmic Rays
- Associated withMass–Energy Equivalence
- Associated withMatter–Antimatter Asymmetry
- Associated withMass–Energy Equivalence
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.