Spin and parity of pion decay

[Josh1079]

Hi, I'm recently reading Krane's nuclear physics textbook, and in the meson physics chapter there is a section about the spin and parity of pions. He demonstrated a way to find out the parity of the pion by investigating a pion decay(as in the attached images). I think I understand what he's doing, but I found it quite difficult to apply to other cases, such as π° → 2e+ 2e- , π- + d → 2n + π°. So can anyone demonstrate this method in these two cases?

Thanks!http://blob:https%3A//mail.google.com/aacaa402-1478-492e-8da6-59707fd3fc18

 

[AndyW]

Hi there,

I'm glad to hear that you are reading Krane's nuclear physics textbook and are interested in the spin and parity of pions. The method that is demonstrated in the textbook is known as the "angular correlation method" and is commonly used in nuclear and particle physics to determine the spin and parity of particles.

In the first case that you mentioned, π° → 2e+ 2e-, the pion decays into two positrons and two electrons, which are both spin-1/2 particles. Since the total spin of the system is 1, the parity of the pion must be positive. This can be determined by measuring the angular distribution of the emitted positrons and electrons, which will have a specific pattern depending on the spin and parity of the pion.

In the second case, π- + d → 2n + π°, the pion interacts with a deuteron (a spin-1 particle) and produces two neutrons and a pion. In this case, the total spin of the system is 1, but the parity is negative. This can be determined by measuring the angular distribution of the emitted neutrons and pion, which will have a different pattern compared to the first case.

Overall, the angular correlation method is a powerful tool for determining the spin and parity of particles, but it does require careful measurements and analysis. I would recommend consulting other sources or reaching out to experts in the field for further clarification and examples. I hope this helps!