Recent content by tritonphysics

Thank you Astrounc for clarifying that pair production requires interaction with a nucleus. This answers the question as to why only a single photon can result in the production of a pair of particles. But, why a pair ? WHen the gamma ray photon (as produced by pi-0 decay e.g.)...

all these particles are great, but let's ask one basic question. When you see those particle tracks, specifically the electron and positron slowing down in a spiral ... is this occurring in a plane, or is there a "z" component to the motion ? Is it really a helix ? with gradually...

Speaking of annihilation ... It's pretty clear that an electron and positron coming together result in two photons created and moving off in opposite directions. This forms the basis for PET imaging. However, pair production (creation of electron and positron) occurs from only a single...