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'''Antimatter''' is composed of fundamental particles that have the opposite [[electric charge]] and quantum spin as those of [[matter]].

'''Antimatter''' is composed of fundamental particles that have the opposite [[electric charge]] and quantum spin as those of [[matter]].

[[Matter]], and therefore everything seen, is made out of particles of nature.  These  particles can be divided into fermions (matter) and bosons (responsible for forces such as electromagnetism and strong nuclear force). Fermions can be subdivided into baryons and mesons.  Hadrons include the proton and neutron and leptons include the [[electron]], [[muon]] and tau as well as the corresponding neutrinos.  For simplicity, the overwhelming majority of matter in the universe is comprised of protons, neutrons and electrons. Antimatter is matter formed from antiparticles, which have the same mass but opposite [[charge]] and quantum spin to their corresponding particles. When antimatter is brought into contact with normal matter, both particles are destroyed, resulting in an explosion that is, in terms of mass to explosive power, the most powerful known to mankind. When two particles of the same type but one matter and one antimatter (e.g. an [[electron]] and a [[positron]]), two photons are produced. Two are produced to satisfy conservation of momentum. The total mass of the particles is converted into energy, as described by [[E=mc^2]].

[[Matter]], and therefore everything seen, is made out of particles of nature.  These  particles can be divided into fermions (matter) and bosons (responsible for forces such as electromagnetism and strong nuclear force). Fermions can be further subdivided into baryons and mesons.  Hadrons include the proton and neutron and leptons include the [[electron]], [[muon]] and tau as well as the corresponding neutrinos.  For simplicity, the overwhelming majority of matter in the universe is comprised of protons, neutrons and electrons. Antimatter is matter formed from antiparticles, which have the same mass but opposite [[charge]] and quantum spin to their corresponding particles. When antimatter is brought into contact with normal matter, both particles are destroyed, resulting in an explosion that is, in terms of mass to explosive power, the most powerful known to mankind. This is because the mass of the particles is totally annihilated. Such an annihilation (e.g. an [[electron]] and a [[positron]]), produces two photons. Two are required by the need to satisfy conservation of both energy and momentum. The total mass of the particles is converted into energy, as described by [[E=mc^2]].

== Discovery ==

== Discovery ==

In the late 19 and early 20th century antimatter had been the cause of much speculation within the scientific community, With William Hicks, Karl Pearson and Arthur Schuster discussing the idea. The current theory of antimatter was set down in a paper by [[Paul Dirac]] in 1928, when he realized his version of the schrödinger wave equation for electrons also raised the possibility for the existence of anti-electrons, electrons that had the same mass but opposite charge and spin. Naturally all the other particles of matter would also have their opposites.

In the late 19 and early 20th century antimatter had been the cause of much speculation within the scientific community, With William Hicks, Karl Pearson and Arthur Schuster discussing the idea. The current theory of antimatter was set down in a paper by [[Paul Dirac]] in 1928, when he created his version of the Schrödinger wave equation, designed to be compatible with the [[Theory of relativity]]. This equation for electrons also raised the possibility for the existence of anti-electrons, electrons that had the same mass but opposite charge and spin. Naturally all the other particles of matter would also have their opposites.

The anti-electron was first observed by Dmitri Skobeltsyn in 1929, using a wilson cloud chamber, and again by Chung-Yao Chao in the same year. But they were first discovered (meaning in this case observed and ''labeled'') by Carl Anderson when he separated the electrons from other types of high energy particles present in cosmic rays based on there mass-to-charge ratio. He found some particles with the same ratio as electrons that moved in the opposite direction when under the influence of a magnet.  He had found the anti-electron, which he called the positron.

The anti-electron was first observed by Dmitri Skobeltsyn in 1929, using a Wilson cloud chamber, and again by Chung-Yao Chao in the same year. But they were first discovered (meaning in this case observed and ''labeled'') by Carl Anderson when he separated the electrons from other types of high energy particles present in cosmic rays based on there mass-to-charge ratio. He found some particles with the same ratio as electrons that moved in the opposite direction when under the influence of a magnet.  He had found the anti-electron, which he called the positron.

The anti-proton was first discovered in 1955, by  physicists Emilio Segrè and Owen Chamberlain. The first anti-neutron was discovered shortly thereafter in 1956, by Bruce Cork.  

The anti-proton was first discovered in 1955, by  physicists Emilio Segrè and Owen Chamberlain. The first anti-neutron was discovered shortly thereafter in 1956, by Bruce Cork.