Does the annihilation of a proton always result in gamma radiation emission?

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    Annihilation Proton
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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the emission of gamma radiation during the annihilation of a proton, exploring the conditions and processes involved in such interactions. Participants delve into various scenarios, including the annihilation of photons and protons, and the production of other particles like pions.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question whether gamma radiation is emitted when a proton is annihilated, suggesting the need for clarification on the specific process involved.
  • One participant proposes calculating the frequency of radiation resulting from proton annihilation to determine if it falls within the gamma-ray spectrum.
  • Another participant emphasizes that annihilation does not always produce photons, indicating that "two photons and nothing else" is a special case.
  • A participant describes a scenario involving a photon annihilated in the presence of a stationary electron, leading to the formation of an electron-positron pair, which they clarify is a different process from proton annihilation.
  • Questions are raised about the average number of pions produced in proton annihilation, with estimates provided and inquiries about the legality of producing two pions.
  • There is a correction regarding terminology, with one participant noting that the process described is "pair production," not "annihilation."

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature of proton annihilation and its outcomes, with no consensus reached on whether gamma radiation is always emitted or the specifics of the processes involved.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the complexity of the processes involved, including the need for specific conditions and the distinction between annihilation and pair production. There are unresolved questions regarding the frequency of pion production and the conditions under which photons are emitted.

SU403RUNFAST
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When a proton is annhilated, is there gamma radiation emitted?
 
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Why not crunch the numbers and see - what frequency radiation results? Is that part of the EM spectrum corresponding to "gamma radiation"?
 
I already crunched numbers got .6 picometer wavelength, so i am just checking ...
 
OK - so does that correspond to the gamma-ray wavelength?
Did you look it up to see?
 
SU403RUNFAST said:
When a proton is annhilated, is there gamma radiation emitted?

What do you mean by this? A proton is not going to simply disappear. You need to specify the process you have in mind. Once you have done that, you can start looking at reaction rates and different channels and cross sections.
 
In addition to Orodruin's answer: the process you might have in mind is extremely unlikely.
Annihilation does not always produce photons, and "two photons and nothing else" is a very special case.
 
I know, you guys are assuming i am trying to solve some problem the situation is that a photon is annhilated in the presence of a stationary electron, forming an electron positron pair along with the original electron. Y+e=e+e+e
 
What is the average number of pions produced by proton annihilation? 4,5?
Maximum is 13 (from pion rest mass). Minimum... 1 is obviously impossible (conservation of momentum), but is 2 pions a legal option, and if so then how frequent?
 
the situation is that a photon is annhilated in the presence of a stationary electron, forming an electron positron pair along with the original electron. Y+e=e+e+e
... that is different from the description in post #1 and the title where you said a proton was being annihilated.

The process: ##\gamma + e \rightarrow e+(e+\bar e)## ... is called "pair production", not "annihilation".
http://web.pdx.edu/~egertonr/ph311-12/pair-p&a.htm
 
  • #10
snorkack said:
What is the average number of pions produced by proton annihilation? 4,5?
Maximum is 13 (from pion rest mass). Minimum... 1 is obviously impossible (conservation of momentum), but is 2 pions a legal option, and if so then how frequent?
5 (experiment, theory). There was some better experimental paper I don't find any more.@SU403RUNFAST: The additional emission of a photon in the process Simon Bridge described is possible, but the emitted photon there does not have a fixed energy then.
 

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