Why “positrons” is being discussed
The most recent Hacker News stories and comments contributing to this topic's mentions.
If you're talking about things at the equivalent level of say, finding out if positrons maintain symmetry with electrons for their magnetic moment, then yeah - I hear you. Or if…
by sheepscreek · Oct 27, 2026
The simple explanation: The positrons fly around the trap center. In the z-direction, this is a simple "up and down" oscillation. There are electrodes in the top and bottom of t…
by maho · Oct 24, 2026
It gets complicated, because protons and anti-protons are composite particles. To simplify somewhat, one quark from each will annihilate, leaving four quarks and a lot of energy…
by mr_toad · Oct 24, 2026
That would too easily get confused with positrons (anti-electrons).
by dekhn · Oct 24, 2026
Positrons aren’t useful because they annihilate to produce gamma rays, which can’t be contained. However, anti-proton annihilation produces a bunch of particles, including pions…
by mr_toad · Oct 24, 2026
But electrons/positrons cannot become fuel. Positrons repel each other. So to make any real amount of antimater, beyond counting individual particles, you need anti-protons…
by sandworm101 · Oct 24, 2026
Interest
Proportion of Hacker News items mentioning "positrons" over time.
Mentions
Total number of Hacker News items mentioning "positrons" over time.
The positron or antielectron is the particle with an electric charge of +1e, a spin of 1/2 ħ, and the same mass as an electron. It is the antiparticle of the electron. When a positron collides with an electron, annihilation occurs. If this collision occurs at low energies, it results in the production of two or more photons. Read more on Wikipedia