Hum Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 A thin band of antimatter particles called antiprotons enveloping the Earth has been spotted for the first time. The find, described in Astrophysical Journal Letters, confirms theoretical work that predicted the Earth's magnetic field could trap antimatter. The team says a small number of antiprotons lie between the Van Allen belts of trapped "normal" matter. The researchers say there may be enough to implement a scheme using antimatter to fuel future spacecraft. The antiprotons were spotted by the Pamela satellite (an acronym for Payload for Antimatter Matter Exploration and Light-nuclei Astrophysics) - launched in 2006 to study the nature of high-energy particles from the Sun and from beyond our Solar System - so-called cosmic rays. These cosmic ray particles can slam into molecules that make up the Earth's atmosphere, creating showers of particles. Many of the cosmic ray particles or these "daughter" particles they create are caught in the Van Allen belts, doughnut-shaped regions where the Earth's magnetic field traps them. Among Pamela's goals was to specifically look for small numbers of antimatter particles among the far more abundant normal matter particles such as protons and the nuclei of helium atoms. more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Growled Member Posted August 16, 2011 Member Share Posted August 16, 2011 Cool find. The researchers say there may be enough to implement a scheme using antimatter to fuel future spacecraft. I bet not in the near future, though. It's nice to know they are there waiting for us to use them when the time comes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hum Posted August 16, 2011 Author Share Posted August 16, 2011 Wonder what keeps the anti-matter from 'exploding' -- or whatever the correct term is ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEX4S Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 I believe the term regularly used it "annihilate" - LOL That was my first thought as well - is if its in a belt of particles - we are just now "seeing" this antimatter ? Why weren't there little "annihilations" all this time in our own back yard ? I think, and believe me I know nothing, this is just more affirmation we dont know jack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vincent Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 Here's the report: http://www.niac.usra.edu/files/studies/final_report/1071Bickford.pdf Seems like it was suspected to exist back in 2006, so this may not be "news" per say... Annihilation of matter and antimatter result in photon emission. single particles of each would result in energy output barely noticeable, all one would see (if anything) would be a small flicker...don't quote me on this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 A key table is on page 34 (redacted for brevity) Antiproton Magnetosphere Impingement: flux/planet/year Earth: 0.004 kg Jupiter: 9.1 kg Saturn: 1.3 kg Uranus: 0.39 kg Neptune: 0.33 kg Not much save for Jupiter, and to a lesser degree Saturn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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