In the context of particle physics, matter-antimatter annihilation typically involves the complete conversion of both particles into energy. When a particle and its corresponding antiparticle come into contact, they can annihilate, producing high-energy photons (gamma rays) or other elementary particles.
Regarding your specific example of a positron (the antiparticle of the electron) colliding with a proton, it is important to note that a positron-proton annihilation is possible but not as straightforward as an electron-positron annihilation. Due to the difference in mass between a proton and an electron, the annihilation process proceeds differently.
When a positron collides with a proton, the two particles can undergo a process called "electron-positron pair creation." In this process, the energy from the collision can be converted into the creation of an electron-positron pair. The positron and electron are antiparticles of each other, while the proton remains intact.
So, in the case of a positron colliding with a proton, the resulting particles would be an electron, a positron, and the original proton.
It's worth noting that there are other possibilities for interactions between positrons and protons that can result in different outcomes, depending on the specific conditions and energies involved. These can include processes such as scattering or the creation of other particles through more complex interactions. The exact details would depend on the specific experimental setup and the energy regime of the particles involved.