The Annihilation of Matter^*

Abstract

THROUGHOUT the greater part of the history of science, matter was believed to be permanent, incapable either of annihilation or of creation. Yet a large amount of astronomical evidence now seems to point to the annihilation of matter as the only possible source of the energy radiated by the stars. A position has thus been reached in which the majority of astronomers think it probable that annihilation of matter constitutes one of the fundamental processes of the universe, while many, and perhaps most, physicists look on the possibility with caution and even distrust. I have thought it might be of interest to attempt a survey of the present situation in respect to this question.