The history of matter and antimatter

The History of matter and antimatter (AS2021305)

By Isuri
  • 400 BCE

    Democritus propose the concept of atoms

    Democritus propose the concept of atoms
    Philosophers such as Democritus propose the concept of atoms as the fundamental building blocks of matter.
  • The identification of chemical elements

    The identification of chemical elements
    Antoine Lavoisier's work on the conservation of mass and the identification of chemical elements lay the foundation for modern chemistry.
  • John Dalton's atomic theory

    John Dalton's atomic theory
    John Dalton's atomic theory provides a systematic framework for understanding the composition of matter in terms of indivisible atoms.
  • Thomson discovers the electron

    Thomson discovers the electron
    J.J. Thomson discovers the electron through his experiments with cathode rays, demonstrating that atoms are not indivisible but composed of subatomic particles
  • theory of special relativity

    theory of special relativity
    Albert Einstein's theory of special relativity introduces the famous equation E=mc², revealing the equivalence of mass and energy and providing theoretical support for the existence of antimatter.
  • Rutherford's Gold Foil Experiment

    Rutherford's Gold Foil Experiment
    Ernest Rutherford's experiment demonstrates that atoms have a small, dense nucleus, leading to the development of the nuclear model of the atom.
  • Bohr's Model of the Atom

    Bohr's Model of the Atom
    Niels Bohr proposes a model of the atom where electrons orbit the nucleus in discrete energy levels, explaining atomic spectra and laying the groundwork for quantum mechanics.
  • Quantum Mechanics Emerges

    Quantum Mechanics Emerges
    The development of quantum mechanics by scientists like Max Planck, Werner Heisenberg, and Erwin Schrödinger provides a new framework for understanding the behavior of particles at the atomic level.
  • predicts the existence of antimatter.

    predicts the existence of antimatter.
    Paul Dirac formulates the Dirac equation, a quantum mechanical wave equation that describes the behavior of relativistic electrons and predicts the existence of antimatter.
  • Discovery of the Neutron

    Discovery of the Neutron
    James Chadwick discovers the neutron while working at the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge. This neutral subatomic particle, located in the nucleus alongside protons, provides stability to the nucleus and contributes to the understanding of atomic structure.
  • discovers the positron

    discovers the positron
    Carl Anderson discovers the positron, the first known antiparticle, while studying cosmic rays in a cloud chamber experiment.
  • Dirac postulates the existence of antiparticles

    Dirac postulates the existence of antiparticles
    Dirac postulates the existence of antiparticles, particles with the same mass but opposite charge to their corresponding particles.
    1955: Emilio Segrè and Owen Chamberlain discover the antiproton at the University of California, Berkeley, further confirming the existence of antimatter.
  • confirming the existence of antimatter

    confirming the existence of antimatter
    Physicists at the University of California, Berkeley, led by Emilio Segrè and Owen Chamberlain, discover the antiproton, the antimatter counterpart of the proton, using the Bevatron particle accelerator.
  • The first antihydrogen atoms are produced

    The first antihydrogen atoms are produced
    The first antihydrogen atoms are produced at CERN, marking a significant milestone in antimatter research and opening the door to experimental studies of antimatter properties.
  • The concept of CP symmetry is introduced

    The concept of CP symmetry is introduced
    The concept of CP symmetry is introduced, suggesting that the laws of physics are symmetric under the combined operations of charge conjugation (C) and parity transformation (P).
  • Precision Antimatter Experiments

    Precision Antimatter Experiments
    Experiments such as ALPHA at CERN achieve precise measurements of antimatter properties, including its spectrum and gravitational behavior, to test fundamental symmetries.
  • Large Hadron Collider (LHC) Experiments

    Large Hadron Collider (LHC) Experiments
    The ATLAS and CMS experiments at the LHC study antimatter and its interactions at unprecedented energies, searching for new physics beyond the Standard Model.
  • Antimatter in Astrophysics

    Antimatter in Astrophysics
    Astrophysicists study cosmic rays and gamma-ray emissions to search for evidence of antimatter in cosmic phenomena, such as supernovae and black holes.
  • Discovery of Antihelium-4

    Discovery of Antihelium-4
    Physicists at CERN's ALPHA experiment announce the first-ever production of antihelium-4, a nucleus consisting of two antiprotons and two antineutrons, marking a significant advancement in antimatter research.
  • Antihydrogen Spectroscopy

    Antihydrogen Spectroscopy
    The ALPHA experiment at CERN achieves the first laser spectroscopy of antihydrogen, enabling precise comparisons with hydrogen to test for any differences in the behavior of matter and antimatter.
  • Higgs Boson Discovery

    Higgs Boson Discovery
    The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN confirms the existence of the Higgs boson, a fundamental particle responsible for giving mass to other particles, contributing to our understanding of the origin of mass and the fundamental forces of nature.
  • Discovery of Antiproton Magnetic Moment

    Discovery of Antiproton Magnetic Moment
    The BASE experiment at CERN measures the magnetic moment of the antiproton with unprecedented precision, confirming the Standard Model predictions and providing insights into the nature of antimatter.
  • Observation of CP Violation in Charm Quarks

    Observation of CP Violation in Charm Quarks
    The LHCb experiment at CERN observes CP violation in the decays of charm mesons, providing further evidence of matter-antimatter asymmetry and contributing to our understanding of fundamental particle interactions.
  • Precision Measurement of Antimatter Gravity

    Precision Measurement of Antimatter Gravity
    The ALPHA-g experiment at CERN measures the gravitational interaction of antihydrogen with matter to unprecedented precision, testing the equivalence principle and searching for any deviations that could hint at new physics beyond the Standard Model.
  • Antimatter Trapped for Record Time

    Antimatter Trapped for Record Time
    The GBAR experiment at CERN traps antihydrogen atoms for a record-breaking 1,000 seconds, allowing for more detailed studies of antimatter properties and interactions.
  • Breakthroughs in Antimatter Cooling

    Breakthroughs in Antimatter Cooling
    Researchers at CERN's GBAR experiment achieve significant advancements in cooling antiprotons and antihydrogen atoms, enabling more precise measurements and studies of antimatter behavior.
  • Achievement in Quantum Supremacy

    Achievement in Quantum Supremacy
    October 23, 2019: Google Al Quantum and collaborators announce that their quantum computer, Sycamore, performed a specific task in 200 seconds that would take the world's most powerful supercomputer 10,000 years to complete, -enchmark for quantum supremacy. This represents ↓ a significant step forward in quantum computing.
  • Search for Antimatter Galaxies Intensifies

    Search for Antimatter Galaxies Intensifies
    Astrophysicists using data from space-based observatories, such as Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and AMS-02 on the International Space Station, continue the search for evidence of antimatter galaxies, probing the cosmic-ray spectrum for signatures of antimatter
  • Antimatter Containment Breakthrough

    Antimatter Containment Breakthrough
    Scientists develop novel techniques for containing and manipulating antimatter, overcoming previous limitations and opening up new possibilities for practical applications in areas such as energy production and medical diagnostics
  • Antimatter in Medicine

    Antimatter in Medicine
    Researchers investigate potential medical applications of antimatter, including its use in positron emission tomography (PET) scans for medical imaging and cancer treatment. Ongoing researches are happening