Hayden Tournabene’s Comps Presentation
Monday, February 15th
8:30 am in Olin 101
Matter/Antimatter Asymmetry: Why is there something and not nothing?
In this talk, I’ll examine the apparent discrepancy between matter and antimatter within the universe. Extensive experimental work has been done at particle accelerators around the globe that have the ability to recreate the conditions just after the big bang. The extreme temperature and energy density of this state creates an abundance of particles and antiparticles (discrete pieces of matter with opposite charge) that annihilate in pairs as the state cools. Our universe is teeming with matter that comprises stars, planets, mountains, plants, and animals whereas the presence of antimatter has generally been restricted to the domain of bubble chambers and laboratories. This paper will explore the nature of the fundamental forces, symmetries, and particles that make up the cosmos with a speci?c focus towards addressing possible explanations as to why there is something rather than nothing.