How to determine particle energies in center of momentum frame?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on determining particle energies in the center of momentum (CMS) frame using 4-momentum conservation principles. The key formula derived is E_A = (s + m_A^2 - m_B^2) / (2√s), where s represents the invariant mass squared, and m_A and m_B are the masses of particles A and B, respectively. The approach involves ensuring that the total momentum in the CMS frame is zero, leading to the relationship E_A = -E_B. This method is essential for accurately calculating particle energies in high-energy physics experiments.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of 4-momentum conservation in particle physics
  • Familiarity with the center of momentum frame (CMS) concept
  • Knowledge of invariant mass and its calculation
  • Basic proficiency in algebraic manipulation of equations
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of invariant mass in particle collisions
  • Learn about energy-momentum relations in special relativity
  • Explore applications of 4-momentum conservation in collider physics
  • Investigate the role of the center of momentum frame in experimental setups
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, particularly those specializing in particle physics, students studying high-energy collisions, and researchers involved in experimental design for particle accelerators.

RicardoMP
Messages
48
Reaction score
2
Homework Statement
I want to show for the following process that, except for the angle [tex]\theta[/tex], all momenta and energies are fixed by energy-momentum conservation.
Relevant Equations
[tex]p_A=\frac{1}{2\sqrt{s}}(s+m^2_A-m^2_B\space,\space 0\space,\space 0\space,\space\sqrt{\eta_i})[/tex]
[tex]p_B=\frac{1}{2\sqrt{s}}(s-m^2_A+m^2_B\space,\space 0\space,\space 0\space,\space -\sqrt{\eta_i})[/tex]
[tex]p_C=\frac{1}{2\sqrt{s}}(s+m^2_C-m^2_D\space,\space \sqrt{n_f}sin(\theta)\space,\space 0\space,\space\sqrt{n_f}cos(\theta))[/tex]
[tex]p_D=\frac{1}{2\sqrt{s}}(s-m^2_C+m^2_D\space,\space -\sqrt{n_f}sin(\theta)\space,\space 0\space,\space-\sqrt{n_f}cos(\theta))[/tex]

, where [tex]\eta_i=4s|\vec{p_i}|^2[/tex] and [tex]\eta_f=4s|\vec{p_f}|^2[/tex].
That said, my approach was to determine the energies and 3-momenta at the center of momentum reference frame for each particle, with a fixed s, and check it corresponds to each one of the above, but I'm having some trouble proving that, for example, E_A=\frac{s+m^2_A-m^2_B}{2\sqrt{s}}. I've been playing around with (p_A+p_B)^2=(E_A+E_B)^2=s but I'm failing to determine E_A. How should I do it?
 

Attachments

  • Capture.PNG
    Capture.PNG
    75.6 KB · Views: 383
Physics news on Phys.org
You can use 4-momentum conservation. In the CMS frame, we have $p_A + p_B = 0$. Thus, we have \begin{align}E_A + E_B &= \sqrt{(p_A + p_B)^2} = 0 \\\implies E_A &= -E_B\end{align}We also know that $E_B = \frac{s + m_B^2 - m_A^2}{2\sqrt{s}}$. So we have\begin{align}E_A &= - \frac{s + m_B^2 - m_A^2}{2\sqrt{s}} \\&= \frac{s + m_A^2 - m_B^2}{2\sqrt{s}}\end{align}
 

Similar threads

Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
5K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
4K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
8
Views
3K
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K