Chronicles of Antimatter: “Simulating” The Antimatter Factory Inside You (Part 3)
(Beta +) Decay and (Beta -) Decay
Preface
Okay, we’re back live! So where was I?
You were going to mention the answers to what emits anti-matter in my home! Also, you talked about K-40 and Beta Decay!
Oh, yeah! Now I remember!
The answer is A & C!
Bananas and human beings do emit antimatter, more specifically, positrons through (Beta +) Decay!
W.T.F !? (Excuse my language)
Yup, that’s right! While bananas emit one particle of antimatter, specifically one positron, every 75 minutes, you emit antimatter 24/7/365! Humans contain small amounts of K-40 by the foods that we eat, which makes us capable of being radioactive, and in the process, producing antimatter.
“Simulating” (Beta +) Decay
200,000 + atoms of K-40 decay into either Ar-40 or Ca-40 per minute!
10.72 % of all these decaying atoms will undergo (Beta+) Decay, transforming into the new element Ar-40. During this process, a proton will transform into a neutron, emitting a neutrino and a positron!
Depending on your mass, in total the average human being emits between 170–210 positrons per hour!
“Simulating” (Beta -) Decay
200,000 + atoms of K-40 decay into either Ar-40 or Ca-40 per minute!
89.28 % of all the decaying atoms will undergo (Beta -) Decay, transforming into the new element Ca-40. During the process, a neutron will transform into a proton, emitting an electron and an antineutrino!
Unfortunately, (Beta -) Decay will not produce positrons, it produces anti-neutrinos, and we don’t know how many are produced, let alone if an anti-neutrino is its own counterpart to the neutrino! Or in other terms, a neutrino and an antineutrino are the same, their own particle/anti-particle!
But Carlos, does that mean I will explode?
Of course, you won’t explode! The antiparticles don't go very far once they are emitted from your body. The positrons will eventually collide with an electron and annihilate each other, but the gamma radiation emitted is so minuscule, it will not affect you and your lifetime!
So, Where’s the “Simulation”, Carlos!?
Because you asked, after 3 weeks of non-stop work, I’m happy to present the code! Here it is!
In case you missed the first 2 articles of this series, check them out here:
Now, if you don’t mind, I haven’t eaten breakfast yet, and I’m hungry! I think I’ll just eat a banana! See you soon!
