Antimatter

In particle physics and quantum chemistry antimatter is the extension of the concept of the antiparticle to matter, where antimatter is composed of antiparticles in the same way that normal matter is composed of particles. For example an antielectron (a positron, an electron with a positive charge) and an antiproton (a proton with a negative charge) could form an antihydrogen atom in the same way that an electron and a proton form a normal matter hydrogen atom. Furthermore, mixing of matter and antimatter would lead to the annihilation of both in the same way that mixing of antiparticles and particles does, thus giving rise to high-energy photons (gamma rays) or other particle–antiparticle pairs. The particles resulting from matter-antimatter annihilation are endowed with energy equal to the difference between the rest mass of the products of the annihilation and the rest mass of the original matter-antimatter pair, which is often quite large.

There is considerable speculation in science as to why the observable universe is apparently almost entirely matter, whether other places are almost entirely antimatter instead and what might be possible if antimatter could be harnessed, but at this time the apparent asymmetry of matter and antimatter in the visible universe is one of the greatest unsolved problems in physics. The process developing particles and antiparticles is called baryogenesis.

Antimatter is used by the Covenant in highly potent destructive devices, which causes a massive emission of energy when the antimatter comes into contact with matter, releasing gamma rays. Smaller devices create points in which the Covenant can gain access to UNSC warships, for boarding actions. Larger devices are capable of destroying even large Orbital Defence Platforms, or Covenant Assault Carriers.

Uses

 * Antimatter Charge
 * Covenant Bomb

Trivia

 * Antimatter is a real substance.
 * Several other Science Fiction sagas and stories, besides Halo, use antimatter as a weapon or in subsided, indirect context. For example it was used in the book "Angels and Demons" by Dan Brown.
 * A positron is the antimatter equivalent to an electron and an anti-proton is the antimatter equivalent to a proton. Every element has an antimatter equivalent.
 * It is theorized that antimatter is created at the very center and crux of the Milky Way Galaxy, and is perhaps the source of the Covenants antimatter itself, not deriving from a Forerunner technology basis.
 * The world's largest scientific research facility--Switzerland's Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire (CERN)-- recently succeeded in producing the first particles of antimatter. Its the most powerful energy source known to man. It releases energy with 100 percent efficiency (nuclear fission is 1.5 percent efficient). Antimatter creates no pollution or radiation, and a droplet could power New York City for a full day. However, antimatter is highly unstable. It ignites when it comes in contact with absolutely anything...even air. A single gram of antimatter contains the energy of a 20-kiloton nuclear bomb--the size of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. [Brown, Dan. Angels and Demons. Pocket Books. 2000.]