antiproton
/,ænti'proutɔn/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun 1. An unstable subatomic particle with a negative electric charge and the same mass as a proton; the antimatter counterpart of a proton. - In particle physics, an antiproton is the antiparticle of the proton. It has the same mass as a proton but carries a negative charge. When a proton and an antiproton meet, they annihilate each other, converting their mass into energy.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Scientists at CERN create and study antiprotons in particle accelerators.
- The existence of the antiproton was confirmed experimentally in 1955.
- In theory, an atom of antihydrogen would consist of an antiproton and a positron.
Advanced Usage
- "Antiproton Decelerator (AD)": A specialized facility at CERN designed to slow down antiprotons so they can be studied more easily.
- The Antiproton Decelerator is crucial for experiments on antimatter.
- "Antiproton-proton annihilation": The process where a proton and an antiproton collide and are converted into other particles or energy.
- The signature of antiproton-proton annihilation is a burst of high-energy photons or pions.
Variants and Related Words
- Antimatter (n): Matter composed of antiparticles, such as antiprotons, antineutrons, and positrons.
- If matter and antimatter meet, they annihilate each other.
- Positron (n): The antiparticle of the electron; it has a positive charge.
- A positron and an antiproton are components of antihydrogen.
Synonyms
- Negative proton (This is a descriptive synonym, though "antiproton" is the standard scientific term).
Related Phrases and Concepts
- Baryon number: A quantum number conserved in particle interactions. A proton has a baryon number of +1, while an antiproton has a baryon number of -1.
- Antinucleus: A nucleus composed of antiprotons and antineutrons.
- Creating a stable antinucleus is an extreme technical challenge.
Noun
- an unstable negatively charged proton; the antiparticle of a proton