![]() Gato-Rivera returns to Earth to discuss current experiments in particle physics such as those at CERN’s Antimatter Factory, asking whether antiatoms really have the same properties as atoms, at least as far as their excitation spectra and gravitational pull is concerned. This touches upon the processes of the primordial creation of matter and antimatter, and on the open question of whether anti-stars, or even anti-galaxies, could exist somewhere in the universe. The focus is then put on one of the most interesting and important conundrums in particle physics and astrophysics: the apparent huge asymmetry between matter and antimatter in the observed universe. The next chapter covers the production of antimatter by particle collisions in accelerators at high energies, including a brief history of the facilities at CERN. Gato-Rivera then turns to a detailed historical overview of cosmic-ray research, from balloon experiments to large-scale ground-based detectors, finally culminating in modern space-based detectors on board satellites and the ISS. The positron was first found in cosmic rays by Carl Anderson and later artificially produced en masse in particle accelerators. In a separate appendix, Gato-Rivera passionately clears up a historical controversy about its discovery. In particular, the ground-breaking discovery of the first antiparticle, the positron, is described in excellent detail. Next up, a historical chapter reviews the major landmarks of the discovery of antimatter particles, from elementary antiparticles to anti-hadrons, and anti-nuclei to antiatoms. She also carefully explains the distinction between primordial and secondary antimatter, and their roles in cosmology. In particular, Gato-Rivera discusses dark-matter and dark-energy candidates, attempts to detect dark matter and its relation to the fate of the universe. This touches upon the observed accelerating expansion of the universe. ![]() She then focuses on diverse aspects of antimatter science, beginning with the differences between antimatter, dark matter and dark energy, and the different roles they play in the universe. Gato-Rivera sets out with a detailed exploration of the differences between atoms and antiatoms, as well as of matter–antimatter annihilation, motivating the reader to delve into a fairly complete introduction to particle physics: the concepts that underpin the Standard Model, and some that lie beyond. ![]() ![]() Substantially extending her text Antimateria, from the outreach collection “Qué Sabemos De”, this work will also be of interest to experts, thanks to well documented anecdotes of historical interest. Beatriz Gato-Rivera, a former CERN fellow in theoretical physics and now a researcher at the Spanish National Research Council, recently published a noteworthy book on the subject, entitled Antimatter: What It Is and Why It’s Important in Physics and Everyday Life. ![]() Credit: CERNĪntimatter captivates the popular imagination. Antimatter: What It Is and Why It’s Important in Physics and Everyday Life, By Beatriz Gato-Rivera, Springer Annihilation An antiproton collides with an atom of gaseous neon in the PS-179 experiment at CERN’s Low-Energy Antiproton Ring in 1984. ![]()
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