Baryogenesis
Baryogenesis is the theoretical process that explains how the universe came to have more matter than antimatter. According to current models, shortly after the Big Bang, conditions in the early universe allowed for the creation of an excess of baryons, which are particles like protons and neutrons, over antibaryons. This imbalance is crucial because, if matter and antimatter were created in equal amounts, they would annihilate each other, leaving a universe devoid of matter.
The study of baryogenesis involves various theories, including Sakharov's conditions, which outline the necessary criteria for this asymmetry to occur. Researchers explore different mechanisms, such as electroweak baryogenesis and leptogenesis, to understand how this process might have unfolded in the early universe. Understanding baryogenesis is essential for explaining the observable matter in the universe today.