Can collision of two protons create multiple antiprotons ?

In summary, when two protons collide at an energy of 3.6 Gev, there will be a variety of particles produced in addition to four protons. This is due to the conservation laws, which allow for the creation of lighter particles such as pions, kaons, gammas, and lepton pairs. However, it is difficult to achieve a head-on collision of protons, as most of the time only the gluons or sea quarks inside the protons will collide. Additionally, the cross section for producing six or eight protons in the collision would not be significant.
  • #1
Fateh.Aurora
1
0
collision of two protons at about 1.8 Gev results in
p + p --> p + p + p + p*
will collision at an energy of 3.6 Gev result in
p + p --> p + p + p + p + p* + p*
if not what else happens ?
 
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  • #2
Yes, along with anything and everything that's consistent with the conservation laws, especially energy conservation, charge and baryon number. Lighter particles are more likely. So along with two or more baryons you'll get pions, kaons, gammas, lepton pairs, etc.
 
  • #3
I think you would have a really hard time colliding the protons head on. Most of the time you would just be colliding the gluons (or sea quarks as well) inside the protons. Its actually really hard to get two protons to collide head on. Even if you did, I don't think the cross section for p p -> p p p p* or p p -> p p p p* p p* would be very significant... But i have not done that calculation to be honest.
 

1. Can the collision of two protons create multiple antiprotons?

Yes, it is possible for the collision of two protons to create multiple antiprotons. This process is known as proton-antiproton annihilation and occurs when the energy of the collision is high enough to produce antiprotons.

2. How is energy converted into antiprotons during a collision?

During a collision, the energy is converted into mass according to Einstein's famous equation, E=mc^2. This means that the high energy of the collision can be converted into the creation of antiprotons, which have mass.

3. What is the purpose of creating antiprotons through proton collisions?

The creation of antiprotons through proton collisions allows scientists to study the properties and behavior of antiprotons, which can provide insight into the nature of antimatter and its relationship with matter. It also has potential applications in fields such as cancer treatment and space exploration.

4. How are antiprotons different from protons?

Antiprotons are the antimatter counterpart of protons, meaning they have the same mass as protons but opposite charge. They also have opposite magnetic moments and spin orientations compared to protons.

5. Can antiprotons be used as a source of energy?

While antiprotons do have mass and energy, they are not a practical source of energy due to the difficulty and high cost of creating and storing them. However, they can be used in specific applications such as cancer treatment and propulsion systems for spacecraft.

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