Can Protons and Antiprotons Annihilate into W Bosons?

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SUMMARY

Protons and antiprotons can annihilate into W bosons, represented by the reaction p + \bar{p} \rightarrow W^+ + W^-. The discussion highlights the significant mass difference between protons and W bosons, which raises questions about the feasibility of this annihilation process. Conservation of mass and energy plays a crucial role in understanding particle interactions. The necessity of high-energy environments, such as those provided by particle accelerators, is emphasized to facilitate such reactions.

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<br /> p + \bar{p} \rightarrow W^+ + W^-<br />

I'm just going through various "Is this particle annihilation/decay possible" questions and came across this one...then started thinking...then started over-thinking. Is this possible? It seems because the W bosons are so much more massive than the protons it shouldn't be. But looking through various books and hyperphysics I'm not sure. I'm thinking it's due to conservation of mass/energy but not positive. Where is my thinking going astray?Thanks.
 
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