Anti-Matter

There has been a lot of discussion on Anti-matter recently on the list. One
thing that people have not mentioned is that anti-matter is not an element
in and of itself. You have anti-electrons (positrons), anti-hydrogen,
anti-helium, anti-uranium, etc.

Perhaps the more physics oriented on the list could clairify the next point:
I have read (perhaps in Sci-Fi) that a matter-antimatter reaction only takes
place between like elements. This becomes important with the higher tech
missiles (anti-matter ones). If a chunk of anti-carbon is impacting on a
hull (presumably some iron/titanium type metal), what happens?

Scenario 1) Every gram of the anti-carbon combies with the metal for a really
big boom (this is what the rules imply). All the missile owners are happy.

Scenario 2) On impact the atoms don't "fit" and only the surface electrons
combine for a small explosion hurling the majority of the anti-carbon in the
opposite direction. All the ship owners would be happy, as you would have to
have a missile corresponding to the hull nearly exactly (Anti-titanium,
covered by the same type of anti-paint etc.)

			-Dan

Dan Corrin, System Manager, Mechanical Engineering, UWO, London, Ontario
TML FTP site coordinator:  [email removed]    ...!watmath!julian!engrg!dan

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