Are particles that are their own antiparticles real?
Majorana fermion
Are particles that are their own antiparticles real?
Imagine you're trying to find a unique key that can unlock a door from both sides, a key that fits perfectly no matter which way you turn it. This sounds impossible with regular keys, right?
In the world of tiny particles, there's a theoretical key that fits perfectly in both directions, making it its own opposite. This key is called a Majorana fermion.
Example
Just like a unique key that fits perfectly from both sides, a Majorana fermion is a particle that is its own antiparticle.
Remember this
A Majorana fermion is a particle that is its own antiparticle, making it unique in particle physics.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related concepts
Topological insulator
Topological insulators conduct on the surface but insulate in the bulk
Supersymmetry
Every fermion has a bosonic partner and vice versa
Fermi–Dirac statistics
Fermi-Dirac statistics govern fermions' energy distribution
Dirac equation
Dirac equation implies existence of antimatter
Spin–statistics theorem
Spin-statistics theorem links particle spin to statistics
BCS theory
BCS theory explains superconductivity through Cooper pairs of electrons
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