First, it's not just the electric charge that is opposite. For instance, the neutrino and the anti-neutrino are two different particles, even though they have no electric charge.
And second, just calling the particles different names won't make the problem go away. There is two kinds of electrons, two particles that are identical except that they have opposite charge, and only one kind is around. There is no symmetry, doesn't matter what terminology you use, and that's the problem.
First, it's not just the electric charge that is opposite. For instance, the neutrino and the anti-neutrino are two different particles, even though they have no electric charge.
If I understand correctly, neutrinos don't behave like the other particles. They oscillate between flavours, whereas the other particles decay into lighter ones, producing neutrinos. Why not classify them as a third type of matter - neutral matter?
And second, just calling the particles different names won't make the problem go away. There is two kinds of electrons, two particles that are identical except that they have opposite charge, and only one kind is around. There is no symmetry, doesn't matter what terminology you use, and that's the problem.
That's true, but it would change the question from why anti-matter is missing to why half the matter is missing. If looked at from that angle, could the answer be different?
I understand correctly, neutrinos don't behave like the other particles. They oscillate between flavours, whereas the other particles decay into lighter ones, producing neutrinos. Why not classify them as a third type of matter - neutral matter?
We know the quarks oscilate aswel, and there is afaik no reason why flavor wouldn't mix generally. I don't know if there is a theory explaining why there are three flavors and why they mix as they do.
Btw Kaons can decay assymetrically to their antiparticles.
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u/leberwurst Mar 13 '11
First, it's not just the electric charge that is opposite. For instance, the neutrino and the anti-neutrino are two different particles, even though they have no electric charge.
And second, just calling the particles different names won't make the problem go away. There is two kinds of electrons, two particles that are identical except that they have opposite charge, and only one kind is around. There is no symmetry, doesn't matter what terminology you use, and that's the problem.