Thread: pair production
View Single Post
Apr29-09, 06:32 PM   #3
 
Recognitions:
Science Advisor Science Advisor
Quote by malawi_glenn View Post
it can become when its energy is above twice the particle mass.

e.g. pair production of electron + positron is possible when the photon has energy above 2*m_e = 1022keV
Your description is somewhat incomplete. In order for pair production to take place the photon has to interact with a nucleus so that momentum conservation will hold. Alternatively if two photons collide (such as just after the big bang) pair production will also be possible.