Scientists create antimatter through a process called particle acceleration and collision. There are different methods used, but one common approach is to accelerate particles, such as protons or electrons, to high energies using particle accelerators like the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). These accelerated particles are then collided with a target, resulting in the production of antimatter particles.
Antimatter particles have the same mass as their corresponding matter particles but possess opposite charges. For example, the antimatter counterpart of an electron is called a positron, which has the same mass as an electron but a positive charge.
Once created, antimatter needs to be stored and contained, as it annihilates upon contact with matter, releasing a large amount of energy. Scientists typically use magnetic fields to trap and suspend antimatter particles in vacuum chambers. This magnetic confinement prevents antimatter from coming into contact with matter, thereby avoiding annihilation.
Storing antimatter is a complex challenge due to its tendency to interact with the walls of its container, causing annihilation. Scientists have made significant progress in devising techniques for storing antimatter, such as using advanced magnetic traps and cryogenic systems that maintain extremely low temperatures. These methods help prevent antimatter from coming into contact with regular matter and minimize annihilation.
In terms of the largest quantity of antimatter created by humans so far, it is important to note that antimatter production remains extremely limited and challenging. The quantities produced are still relatively small and measured in nanograms (billionths of a gram). the largest quantity of antihydrogen, which consists of a positron orbiting an antiproton, produced at CERN's Antiproton Decelerator, was on the order of tens of nanograms. However, it's worth noting that research in this field continues, and advancements may have been made since then.