Antiparticles moving opposite direction in time?

  • #1
rolnor
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Does antiparticles move backwards in time
I have seen this in pop-science, is it correct? Does antiparticles move in the oppisite direction of time? Is it possible to prove this experimentaly? Does it have any practical consequenses? We use PET-scaning everyday, is there anything to consider when working with positrones connected with them moving back in time?
 
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  • #2
rolnor said:
I have seen this in pop-science
Which should already raise a red flag that the answer to this...

rolnor said:
is it correct?
...is going to be "no". Which it is.

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FAQ: Antiparticles moving opposite direction in time?

What are antiparticles?

Antiparticles are counterparts to particles with the same mass but opposite electric charge and other quantum numbers. For example, the antiparticle of the electron is the positron, which has the same mass as the electron but a positive charge.

Why are antiparticles said to move in the opposite direction in time?

This concept comes from the interpretation of certain solutions to the equations of quantum field theory, particularly those involving Feynman diagrams. In these diagrams, an antiparticle can be viewed as a particle moving backward in time, which helps simplify calculations and provides a consistent way to understand particle interactions.

Is there experimental evidence that antiparticles move backward in time?

No, there is no direct experimental evidence that antiparticles move backward in time. The idea is primarily a mathematical interpretation used in theoretical physics to describe particle interactions. In practice, antiparticles behave like particles moving forward in time but with opposite quantum properties.

How does the concept of antiparticles moving in time affect our understanding of physics?

This concept helps physicists understand and predict the outcomes of high-energy particle interactions. It provides a framework for the creation and annihilation of particle-antiparticle pairs and is essential for the consistency of quantum field theories, particularly in the context of Feynman diagrams and the Standard Model of particle physics.

Can antiparticles moving backward in time lead to time travel?

No, the concept of antiparticles moving backward in time does not imply that time travel is possible. It is a theoretical tool used to simplify the mathematics of particle interactions and does not suggest that macroscopic objects or information can travel backward in time.

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