E=mc2 Energy converts to matter

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter .ultimate
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    E=mc2 Energy Matter
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the conversion of energy to matter as described by E=mc^2, specifically focusing on the types of particles generated during this process and the conservation laws that apply. Participants explore theoretical aspects of high-energy particle physics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions what specific particles are generated when energy radiation converts to matter, asking whether quarks or leptons are produced, or if there is a mediating virtual matter involved.
  • Another participant notes that the outcome depends on the energy of colliding photons and mentions that there are cross-sections for various particle pairs, indicating that the distribution of particles can be determined but not the specific outcome of each event.
  • A third participant emphasizes the importance of conservation laws, stating that factors such as total charge must be considered, and provides examples of possible particle pairs that could be produced from photon collisions.
  • Further, a participant highlights that many conservation laws apply, including lepton family number, and mentions the necessity of balancing these quantities when particles are created.
  • One participant expresses uncertainty about the complete list of conservation laws, indicating a need for clarification on what is conserved in these interactions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the importance of conservation laws in particle interactions, but there is no consensus on the specific outcomes of energy conversion to matter or the complete list of conservation factors involved.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the lack of detailed definitions of the conservation laws discussed and the dependence on the energy levels of colliding photons, which affects the types of particles produced.

.ultimate
Messages
45
Reaction score
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
 
Physics news on Phys.org
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.
 
.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
 
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).
 
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
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
6K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
4K
  • · Replies 27 ·
Replies
27
Views
6K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 48 ·
2
Replies
48
Views
9K
  • · Replies 30 ·
2
Replies
30
Views
5K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
3K