Decay of a particle of mass M into two particles

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the decay of a particle of mass M into two particles with masses m1 and m2. The total energy of each particle in the lab frame is derived using the equation E1 + E2 = Mc², leading to the expression for the energy of the first particle as E1 = (M² + m1² - m2²) / (2M). The kinetic energy T1 of the first particle is expressed as T1 = ΔM (1 - m1/M - ΔM/(2M)). The example of a pion decaying into a muon and a neutrino is analyzed to find the kinetic energies in both the pion rest frame and the lab frame.

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Forco
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Homework Statement


A particle of mass M and 4-moment P decays into two particles of masses m1 and m2
1) Find the total energy of each particle (lab frame).
2) Show that the kinetic energy T1 of the first particle in the same reference frame is given by
$$T_1= \Delta M (1 - \frac{m_1}{M} - \frac{\Delta M}{2M}) $$
3) A pion (M= 139.6 MeV) decays into a muon (m=105,7 MeV) and a neutrino (m=0). Find the kinetic energy of the muon and the neutrino (pion rest frame and lab frame).

Homework Equations


$$ E_1+E_2 = Mc^2$$
$$E_{1}^{2} +\frac{p^2}{c^2} = m_{1}^{2} c^4$$
$$E_{2}^{2} +\frac{p^2}{c^2} = m_{2}^{2} c^4$$

The Attempt at a Solution


I was able to do the first one, since it was really simple, I only needed to set

$$E_{1}^{2} - m_{1}^{2} c^4 = E_{2}^{2} - m_{2}^{2} c^4$$
And since $$ E_1+E_2 = Mc^2$$, it was easy to find that
$$E_1 = \frac{M^2+m_{1}^{2}-m_{2}^{2}}{2M}$$
Which is the correct expression for the energy. I'm having some trouble with the other two though. Especially the second one.
Any help is appreciated.
 
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Forco said:
I was able to do the first one, since it was really simple, I only needed to set

$$E_{1}^{2} - m_{1}^{2} c^4 = E_{2}^{2} - m_{2}^{2} c^4$$
And since $$ E_1+E_2 = Mc^2$$, it was easy to find that
$$E_1 = \frac{M^2+m_{1}^{2}-m_{2}^{2}}{2M}$$
Which is the correct expression for the energy.
Are you sure? I don't see how you can justify equations you started with in the lab frame.
 

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