Scientists have identified two specific reactions between antimatter and normal matter that could help make interstellar travel a reality. The authors of a new study believe that using an antimatter rocket engine, which produces 300 times more energy than thermonuclear fusion in the Sun’s core, will make flights to nearby stars a reality. And it will be possible to reach these stars in a few days. According to scientists, antimatter rocket engines are an innovative technology that deserves more attention. After all, with the help of such engines, it will be possible to significantly speed up flights between different planets of the Solar System, as well as very quickly reach the stars closest to us. At the same time, scientists believe that such a flight could take from several days to several weeks. This is simply incredible, given that modern technologies provide that such a flight will take hundreds of years. Antimatter consists of antiparticles. That is, they are analogs of particles of ordinary matter, having the opposite charge. When particles of antimatter and ordinary matter meet, they destroy each other. As a result, a huge amount of energy is released, into which the combined mass is converted. This destruction of particles is considered the highest-energy reaction in known physics. The study’s authors concluded that for a future antimatter rocket engine to operate efficiently, two types of particle annihilation reactions must be used. In the first case, it is possible to use the interaction and subsequent destruction with the release of energy of antiprotons and protons with neutrons. Antiprotons are particles of antimatter. Scientists believe that in this case, the reaction of the destruction of antiparticles and particles is very stable and a lot of energy is released to create thrust and, accordingly, to create superfast speed. It is also possible to use the reaction of the destruction of positrons and electrons. Positrons are antiparticles of electrons. This reaction is also very effective. Many antiparticles are unstable, and during long flights in space, it is necessary to keep antimatter in a stable state for a long time. Therefore, the above antiparticles were chosen. According to scientists, when normal matter and antimatter come into contact, they convert their mass into energy during annihilation, resulting in an energy density equivalent to 9 x 10¹⁶ J/kg. This is 300 times greater than that produced during thermonuclear fusion in the core of the Sun. One of the advantages of the antimatter engine is that approximately 70% of the energy released from the destruction of antiparticles and particles can be used to propel the spacecraft. Antimatter is difficult and very expensive to create and store. But it takes a lot of it to power innovative rocket engines. The authors of the study believe that antihydrogen could be used as fuel for antimatter engines. It is the simplest antimatter atom, stable, easy to produce, and can be stored for a long time. But antihydrogen production is still in the early stages of development. The post Antimatter Rocket Engine Will Help Fly To The Nearest Stars In A Few Days appeared first on Anomalien.com.