Anti-matter?

Question

Do you think that one day we will produce a real anti-matter/matter collision energy source? I read in a book today that somewhere in America they created the anti-hydrogen atom, consisting of an anti-proton and a positron. However it dissapeared within a millionth of a second, because it reacted with matter within the system to produce energy.

I've heard that this is how the engines work on Star Trek, even though I dont really like Sci-Fi. I no it sounds odd.

Answer 1

I doubt we'll be able to produce anti-matter efficiently enough to use it as a power source.  The amount of energy it takes to create an anti-hydrogen is enormous!  It is possible, though, that anti-matter exists on its own in the far reaches of the universe.  It's even possible that there are entire galaxies made of it.  It's highly improbable that our own galaxy contains any though, at least not for very long.

Answer 2

I am not an expert (though friends of mine are), antimatter DOES exist, but only in the lab, and as you say, only for a very very short time.

The Star Trek thing is not horrible science. The design of the Enterprise aside, I suppose it is plausible

Answer 3

I've actually been wondering the same thing. Often I think of how possible is it to combine matter and anti matter in a chain reaction to fuel the engines of a ship. I would really hope that it is possible and would love to see it in my lifetime (which I think it's between slim to none). I don't know how it would be made since the Dilithium Crystals are the fiction part of it. I don't know physics at all to know the details of the whole matter anti matter reaction. It sounds possible.

Answer 4

matter with particals containg opposite charges of their usual

it is impossible  for antimatter to exist on earth, because it blows up with forces equivelent to a nuclear bomb of the same weight, when it touches earth's matter atmosphere

Answer 5

Is it possible to create that kind of a reaction?  Yes.  

Is it possible to use it as a source of energy?  Possibly, but as you mentioned, you're going to have problems with containment, controlled reactions, and producing it energy efficiently in the first place.  I doubt the article mentioned the amount of energy required to create the anti-hydrogen atom.

Answer 6

you look and sound just like my friend Evan...

Answer 7

Whats the matter here?

Answer 8

I've heard  TNG mention "anti-matter converters" in refererence to warp(FTL) drives, I believe.

Answer 9

actually, the engines on Star Trek are Nuclear plazma driven.

and if the Americans have created what you say they've created (whihc is a big achievement, I might add) then we already have created a anti-matter/matter collision energy scource