Antimatter vs Nuclear Energy
Compare how much energy you'd get from the same mass of antimatter, nuclear fuel, or chemical fuels.
Mass to Compare
Energy Released
| Energy Source | Energy | Antimatter is… |
|---|---|---|
| Antimatter (matter+antimatter annihilation) | 179.75 TJ | — |
| Nuclear fusion (D+T) | 340.00 GJ | 529× more |
| Nuclear fission (U-235) | 82.00 GJ | 2,192× more |
| Hydrogen (H₂ combustion) | 142.00 kJ | 1,265,852,364× more |
| Gasoline | 46.00 kJ | 3,907,631,212× more |
| Coal | 24.00 kJ | 7,489,626,489× more |
| TNT | 4.18 kJ | 42,961,528,620× more |
| Lithium-ion battery | 900.00 J | 199,723,373,053× more |
Why Antimatter Wins on Energy Density
Antimatter converts 100% of its mass to energy. Nuclear fusion converts ~0.7%. Fission converts ~0.1%. Chemical reactions convert about a billionth of a percent. That's why even a microgram of antimatter packs a serious punch.
The catch: producing antimatter is staggeringly inefficient — using more energy than the antimatter ever stores. Use the Antimatter Cost Calculator to see why this remains a sci-fi propellant.