Exploring Proton-Antiproton Annihilation: Energy and Results Explained

[Deepak247]

I recently checked this link...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proton_antiproton_annihilation

It says that...For proton-antiproton annihilation at 2 GeV, one final state result is

p + p → π0
+ γ1 + γ2 + γ3 + γ4

with γ1 and γ3 ~125 MeV each, γ2 and γ4 ~530 MeV each

but if we add up all the MeV, then it is less than what should be the resulting energy...isnt it?

I mean all the photons will add up to make 1280 MeV, also it is happening at 2 GeV so it should definitely produce more energetic photons following the law of conservation of energy...


Are the scientists today still confused about this whole annihilation process? do they still need more study? please explain

 

[Bill_K]

What about the energy of the π⁰?

 

[Drakkith]

The rest of the energy is conserved in the produced pion.

 

[Deepak247]

but the rest mass of pion π0 is 134.9766(6) MeV/c2, add this to 1280 and we get 1414.9 MeV...I was expecting something worth more energy out of this collison...does that should be the case?

 

[Drakkith]

but the rest mass of pion π0 is 134.9766(6) MeV/c2, add this to 1280 and we get 1414.9 MeV...I was expecting something worth more energy out of this collison...does that should be the case?

Does the pion have kinetic energy?

 

[Deepak247]

please explain drakkith...or anyone else...you can refer to the above mentioned page at the start of this thread...

I still believe that this phenomenon of annihilation needs more discoveries and data to be explained well...

Does everyone agree with me or am i not getting it right?

please reply

 

[jtbell]

The π⁰ has whatever kinetic energy it takes to make up the necessary total.

 

[Deepak247]

ok...just one more thing...how much kinetic energy do you expect it to have?

 

[Misericorde]

ok...just one more thing...how much kinetic energy do you expect it to have?

More than the rest energy of a breadbox? Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

 

[Drakkith]

ok...just one more thing...how much kinetic energy do you expect it to have?

Unless other particles are produced, it will have whatever energy is left over as kinetic energy.

 

[Deepak247]

Thank you so much everyone...

I got almost all the answers i was looking for

just one slight thing, if anyone still bothers to reply...

how much energy is usually observed with this π0 particle? (i.e in MeV if possible)