The existence of antimatter is a fundamental prediction of several well-established theories in physics, including quantum field theory and the Standard Model. Antimatter is experimentally observed and has been produced and studied in particle accelerators.
The concept of antimatter arises from the symmetries and conservation laws that govern particle interactions. According to these laws, certain properties, such as electric charge, must be conserved in particle interactions. Antimatter particles are essentially "opposite" counterparts of their corresponding matter particles, having opposite charge and certain other properties.
Here are a few reasons why the existence of antimatter is important and assuming it never existed would lead to significant complications:
Experimental evidence: Antimatter has been directly observed and produced in laboratory experiments. It has properties that are distinct from those of regular matter, and its interactions with matter are well-documented. Denying the existence of antimatter would require dismissing or reinterpreting a vast body of experimental evidence.
Conservation laws: The laws of physics, including conservation of energy and electric charge, are fundamental principles that have been extensively tested and verified. Antimatter is required to maintain the balance of these conservation laws in particle interactions. If antimatter were assumed not to exist, these conservation laws would be violated or need substantial revisions.
Symmetry and mathematical consistency: The existence of antimatter is deeply rooted in the mathematical framework of modern physics, such as quantum field theory. Antimatter arises naturally from the application of symmetry principles, such as charge conjugation and time reversal. Removing antimatter would disrupt the mathematical consistency and symmetry of our theoretical descriptions.
Cosmological implications: Antimatter has cosmological implications, particularly in understanding the early universe and the processes of baryogenesis (the asymmetry between matter and antimatter). The observed dominance of matter over antimatter in the universe is an open question known as the baryon asymmetry problem. Assuming antimatter never existed would dismiss the need for explaining this observed asymmetry.
While it may seem simpler to assume that antimatter never existed, doing so would contradict vast experimental evidence, violate fundamental conservation laws, disrupt mathematical consistency, and neglect important cosmological implications. The existence of antimatter is a well-established aspect of our current understanding of the laws of physics, and its study contributes to our knowledge of the universe and its fundamental interactions.