When a particle meets its antiparticle, both masses convert entirely into energy — usually two gamma-ray photons flying apart to conserve momentum, the most energy-dense reaction known.
E = 2·m·c² (per annihilation pair)
E_e = 1.022 MeV, E_p = 1876 MeV
- Injection rate — how many matter/antimatter pairs enter the chamber per second.
- Magnetic containment — how well the field keeps antimatter from touching the walls early; weaker fields lose particles before controlled annihilation.
- Simulation speed — time-scale multiplier for the whole chamber.
- Particle pair — electron-positron (low mass, easy to produce) vs proton-antiproton (nearly 2000× more energy per pair, harder to contain).
Real-world use: CERN's Antiproton Decelerator studies antihydrogen; antimatter's energy density inspires (still highly speculative) propulsion and power concepts because grams could theoretically release gigajoules.