An antimatter bomb, in theory, would have an extremely high energy output, far surpassing conventional explosive devices. However, it's important to note that the actual creation and containment of antimatter in large quantities is currently beyond our technological capabilities and highly impractical. So, the discussion about the power of an antimatter bomb is purely speculative.
When matter and antimatter come into contact, they annihilate each other, releasing an enormous amount of energy according to Einstein's famous equation, E=mc², where E represents energy, m represents mass, and c is the speed of light. Antimatter contains opposite charges to normal matter, resulting in complete annihilation when the two meet.
The energy released in matter-antimatter annihilation is significant because the entire mass of both particles is converted into energy. To put it into perspective, a gram of antimatter annihilating with a gram of matter would release approximately 43 kilotonnes of TNT equivalent energy. In comparison, the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima during World War II had an estimated yield of around 15 kilotonnes of TNT.
However, producing and storing antimatter in such quantities is currently prohibitively expensive and technically challenging. Antimatter can only be produced in particle accelerators or through certain types of radioactive decay, and the production process is highly inefficient. Moreover, containing and storing antimatter is extremely difficult due to its interaction with normal matter, as it will annihilate upon contact with it.
Therefore, while antimatter has the potential for incredibly powerful energy release, the practicality and feasibility of creating and harnessing antimatter as a weapon are far beyond our current capabilities. Additionally, the safety concerns and technical challenges associated with antimatter storage and containment make it an unlikely choice for destructive purposes in the foreseeable future.