Annihilation of two particles / Rest mass energy

[physics369]

I haven't used the template because I just need some reassurance on understanding a topic, not help with a question!

When two particles annihilate (e.g. proton and antiproton), the resulting radiation will have a minimum energy of the sum of the rest mass energies of the two particles, right? But how does the kinetic energy of the particles factor in? Does the energy of the resulting radiation, or in this case, photons, equal the rest mass energies of the proton and antiproton PLUS the the kinetic energies of both particles?

Like this:

hfmin = E0 + KE

?!

 

[Dick]

Yes, energy in equals energy out. So kinetic energy going in also goes into the radiation.

 

[gneill]

Yes, energy in equals energy out. So kinetic energy going in also goes into the radiation.

Also momentum must be conserved. Work out the resulting photon energies.