Positron Antimatter

 

A positron is the antimatter counterpart of the electron.

What is a positron?

• Symbol: e⁺
• Charge: +1 (same magnitude as an electron, but positive)
• Mass: Same as an electron
• Spin: ½ (a fermion)

Key idea

If an electron is matter, a positron is antimatter. They are identical in every way except charge.

What happens when a positron meets an electron?

They annihilate each other 💥

• Their mass is converted into energy
• Typically produces two gamma-ray photons
• Follows Einstein’s equation:
  E = mc²

Where do positrons come from?

• Radioactive decay (beta-plus decay)
• Cosmic rays
• Particle accelerators
• Medical imaging (PET scans)

Positrons in physics

• Predicted by Paul Dirac (1928)
• First confirmed experimentally in 1932
• Key proof that antimatter exists

Positrons in medicine

• Used in Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
• Help doctors image brain activity, cancer, and heart function

Simple comparison

Particle	Charge	Matter Type
Electron (e⁻)	−1	Matter
Positron (e⁺)	+1	Antimatter

If you want, I can explain:

• Positrons vs protons
• Positron decay
• Positrons in quantum fields
• How positrons could be used in future energy or propulsion concepts 🚀