Antimatter - Does it matter?

CPAS student authors Antimatter display at Questacon, the National Science and Technology Centre

CPAS Masters Student, Ms Tegan Donald, working with The Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Antimatter – Matter Studies (CAMS) has produced a fascinating exhibit about Antimatter, hosted by Questacon, the National Science and Technology Centre.

CAMS, hosted by ANU, is a collaboration of Australian universities and research institutions performing research on positron and electron interactions with matter, from single atoms to biological molecules, surfaces and materials. The wide ranging research program brings together some of Australia's top scientists from a broad range of disciplines.

Starting with theoretical and experimental discoveries, the 30 panel display takes the reader on a journey which shows how antimatter is now used in our everyday lives. Moviegoers will be introduced to Antimatter in a science-fiction context in the upcoming Tom Hanks movie “Angels and Demons”, but not too many will realise that Antimatter is an enabling technology for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans and has applications in nanotechnology.

The Australian National University is joined by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Questacon, Siemens and the Australian Research Council to support this project.

Catch the exhibition at Questacon until the end of March, 2009.

Exhibition Author, Ms Tegan Donald, with CPAS Director Assoc. Prof Sue Stocklmayer at the exhibition launch.

Posted 27 February 2009