- #1
james walshe
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Homework Statement
A possible decay mode a of a positive Kaon in the production of three Pions as shown below:.
K+ → π+ + π+ + π−
Whats is the maximum Kinetic energy that anyone of the pions can have?
The kaon is a rest when it decays and so its momentum is 0.
Homework Equations
p(π+)=p(π−)=p
E(k)=E(π+) + E(π+) + E(π−)
Where E=√((pc)^2+(mc^2 )^2 )
(E^2)-(p)^2=(m)^2
The Attempt at a Solution
The mass of the koan:493.7Mev/c^2
The mass of a Pion: 139.6 Mev/c^2
AS The mass of the three Pions is the same the expression for the total energy becomes:
3(√((pc)^2+(mpionc^2 )^2 )=mkaonc2
and through rearranging I come up with a momentum of 80.2MeV.
Alternatively I tried to use the following approach:
E(pion)=1/3*(Ek)=164.7MeV
P=164.7Mev-139.6MeV=25.1Mev
However the book from which the question is taken from (Particle Physics By Anwar Kama: problem 3.19) gives the solution as 50Mev?
Any help on this would be greatly appreciated as it is driving me nuts trying to figure it out.