Dirac Sea

The Dirac Sea is a theoretical model proposed by physicist Paul Dirac to explain the existence of antimatter. It suggests that, at a fundamental level, all negative-energy states in an atom are filled with electrons. When one of these electrons gains enough energy to jump out of this "sea," it leaves behind a "hole" that appears as a particle with positive charge—an antimatter counterpart called a positron. This idea helped scientists understand antimatter's existence and led to the discovery of the positron. Although the Dirac Sea is an outdated concept, it was pivotal in developing quantum theory.