E=mc2 Energy converts to matter

In summary, when energy radiation converts to matter, the particles generated depend on the energy of the colliding photons and certain conservation factors must be taken into consideration. These factors include total charge, lepton number, baryon number, and lepton family number. Ultimately, the distribution of particles created can be determined, but not what colliding photons will become per event.
  • #1
.ultimate
45
0
With regard to [tex]E=mc^2[/tex]

When energy radiation converts to matter, what particle does it generate? (Quark or lepton)

Or is there some mediating virtual matter which afterwards form a hadron?

Please clarify

Thank you
 
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  • #2
It depends on the energy of the colliding photons. There are cross-sections for all the various particle pairs to be created; ultimately we can determine the distribution of particles created, not what colliding photons will become per event.
 
  • #3
.ultimate said:
With regard to [tex]E=mc^2[/tex]

When energy radiation converts to matter, what particle does it generate? (Quark or lepton)

Or is there some mediating virtual matter which afterwards form a hadron?

Please clarify

Thank you
There are certain conservation factors which must be taken into consideration. This will set limits to the products of the resulting products. E.g. the total charge must be zero. Therefore if two photons with enough energy collide they could produce a nutral pion or they could produce a electron-positron pair.

To forum - What other conservation rules apply here? Its been a very long time since I've dabbled with high energy particle physics. I think this will be a lot of help to the OP.

Thanks

Pete
 
  • #4
Almost everything you can think of is conserved. Photons have no charge, no lepton number, no baryon number etc. so all these things are conserved. Lepton family number, for example, is conserved (so if a tauon is created, we must have either an anti-tauon, or a tau anti-neutrino as well).
 
  • #5
masudr said:
Almost everything you can think of is conserved.
The reason I asked was that I don't know the complete list of what "everything" consists of. :smile:

Pete
 

1. What does the equation E=mc2 mean?

The equation E=mc2 is known as the mass-energy equivalence equation and it states that energy (E) and mass (m) are interchangeable and can be converted into one another. The letter c represents the speed of light, which is a constant value in the equation.

2. How does energy convert to matter?

According to the equation E=mc2, energy can be converted into matter by multiplying the mass (m) by the speed of light squared (c2). This means that even a small amount of energy can create a large amount of matter, as long as it is multiplied by the speed of light squared.

3. Is E=mc2 applicable to all forms of energy?

Yes, E=mc2 is a universal equation that applies to all forms of energy, whether it is kinetic energy, potential energy, or thermal energy. This is because all forms of energy can be converted into matter, as long as they are multiplied by the speed of light squared.

4. What is the significance of E=mc2?

E=mc2 is a groundbreaking equation that revolutionized our understanding of the relationship between energy and matter. It provided a way to quantify the amount of energy needed to create matter, and it also helped explain the source of energy in nuclear reactions.

5. Can E=mc2 be proven experimentally?

Yes, E=mc2 has been proven experimentally through numerous studies and experiments, such as the famous atomic bomb tests during World War II. The equation has also been confirmed through the use of particle accelerators, which can convert energy into matter and vice versa.

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