an·ti·par·ti·cle ( n t -pär t -k l, nt -)n. A subatomic particle, such as a positron, antiproton, or antineutron, having the same mass, average lifetime, spin, magnitude of magnetic moment, and magnitude of electric charge as the particle to which it corresponds but having the opposite sign of electric charge, opposite intrinsic parity, and opposite direction of magnetic moment. See Table at subatomic particle. |
antiparticle [ˈæntɪˌpɑːtɪkəl]
n
(Physics / Atomic Physics) any of a group of elementary particles that have the same mass and spin as their corresponding particle but have opposite values for all other nonzero quantum numbers. When a particle collides with its antiparticle, mutual annihilation occurs
| antiparticle (nt-pärt-kl, nt-) A subatomic particle, such as an antiproton, having the same mass as its corresponding particle, but opposite values of other properties such as charge, parity, spin, and direction of magnetic moment. For example, the antiparticle of the electron is the positron, which has a charge that is equal in magnitude to that of the electron but opposite in sign. Some particles, such as photons, are nondistinct from their antiparticles. When a particle and its antiparticle collide, they may annihilate one other and produce other particles. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | antiparticle - a particle that has the same mass as another particle but has opposite values for its other properties; interaction of a particle and its antiparticle results in annihilation and the production of radiant energy elementary particle, fundamental particle - (physics) a particle that is less complex than an atom; regarded as constituents of all matter antimatter - matter consisting of elementary particles that are the antiparticles of those making up normal substances |
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