Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Physical Sciences: Distribution of Antimatter in the Universe

Nature volume 227, pages 475–476 (1970)Cite this article

Abstract

THERE has recently been some interest in the question of the existence of antimatter in the universe. In relation to this problem, Steigman1 has shown that if space were filled with an equal mixture of matter and antimatter, the γ-ray flux resulting from nucleon–antinucleon antihilation would be far above the observed limits2–4. But this does not rule out the possibility that matter and antimatter may exist separately in large regions consisting solely of one type, perhaps in the form of galaxies and antigalaxies, or even clusters of galaxies and anticlusters. The purpose of this report is to find a lower limit to the mass of such regions, if they exist, by using some of the basic conclusions derived from galaxy formation theories in a big-bang universe5.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Steigman, G., Nature, 224, 477 (1969).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Clark, G. W., Garmire, G. P., and Kraushaar, W. L., Astrophys. J. Lett., 153, L203 (1968).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Clark, G. W., Garmire, G. P., and Krausbaar, W. L., IAU Symp. No. 37 (edit. by Gratten, L.) (in the press).

  4. Fichtel, C. E., Kniffen, D. A., and Ogelman, H. B., IAU Symp. No. 37 (edit. by Gratten, L.) (in the press).

  5. Peebles, P. J. E., Astrophys. J., 142, 1317 (1965).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Omnès, R., Phys. Rev. Lett., 23, 38 (1969).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Omnès, R., Nature, 223, 1349 (1969).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Hayakawa, S., Cosmic Ray Physics, 682 (Interscience, 1969).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Theoretical Astronomy,

    JANET JONES & BERNARD JONES

  2. Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge,

    JANET JONES & BERNARD JONES

Authors
  1. JANET JONES
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. BERNARD JONES
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

JONES, J., JONES, B. Physical Sciences: Distribution of Antimatter in the Universe. Nature 227, 475–476 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1038/227475a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/227475a0

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing