antiparticle

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

anti- + particle

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈæntiˌpɑɹtɪkəl/

Noun

antiparticle (plural antiparticles)

  1. (physics) A subatomic particle corresponding to another particle with the same mass, spin and mean lifetime but with charge, parity, strangeness and other quantum numbers flipped in sign; a particle that has a reversed world line to another.
    • 1988, Stephen Hawking, A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes, page 75:
      There could be whole antiworlds and antipeople made out of antiparticles. However, if you meet your antiself, don't shake hands!

Usage notes

  • The symbol for an antiparticle is the symbol for the normal particle plus "bar" (e.g. pbar) or with a bar above the symbol.

Translations

See also

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