Can a gamma initiate weak decay of a proton?

Philip Wood

Does this ever happen?

p + [itex]\gamma[/itex] [itex]\rightarrow[/itex] n + e⁺ + [itex]\nu_e[/itex]

It seems possible, if the [itex]\gamma[/itex] has enough energy, but I wonder if anyone can confirm that it happens.

PAllen

While I have no idea of whether this could happen in practice, or what the cross section would be, I don't see anything to fundamentally prohibit it. In fact, it strikes me you could look at this as combining two well known interactions that do occur:

p + gamma -> p + e+ + e-

then, electron capture. Combine, and you get the proposed reaction. This supports the view that there shouldn't be anything fundamental prohibiting this.

Philip Wood

Thank you. This does indeed make it seem even more plausible.