Review of antimatter experiments: from theory to experiment & experiment to theory

The history of our understanding of antimatter is intriguing. Paul Dirac’s 1928 mathematical conclusion that “positive electrons” would satisfy his quantum equation is a hallmark of theoretical physics -- when Carl Anderson’s 1932 experiment confirmed the existence of the positron, Dirac’s mathematics changed from a formalistic abstract idea to confirmed scientific hypothesis. About that time, Bethe and Heitler theorized the evanescence of electron/positron pairs out of the “quantum vacuum;” their hypothesis was confirmed, at large scale, by recent experiments at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. As well, the experimental work done at Lawrence Berkeley Radiation Laboratory in the 1950s, demonstrating the existence of the antiproton and antineutron, has recently led to work at CERN regarding the effect of gravity on antimatter. Other recent antimatter experiments will also be discussed.



This paper & presentation are intended to provide a history of our understanding of antimatter, with a focus on original theoretical and experimental work and the connection of that work to recent antimatter experiments. The presentation is intended to be particularly interesting for members who are interested in the philosophy of science, as well as its history. The historical perspective is intended to illuminate current experimental work regarding antimatter and is intended to provoke ideas for future experiments to further this area of physics.