Momentum of a massless particle?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the momentum of an electron produced during the decay of a neutron at rest, where a proton is also produced at rest and the anti-neutrino is assumed to have zero mass. The key equations referenced include the relativistic momentum equation, p = \gamma(mv), and the energy-momentum relation, E^2 = p^2c^2 + m^2c^4. The conservation of momentum and energy laws are critical in determining that the momentum of the electron must be equal and opposite to that of the anti-neutrino, despite the latter's zero mass. The challenge lies in calculating the momentum of the massless anti-neutrino and its implications for the electron's momentum.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of relativistic momentum, specifically p = \gamma(mv)
  • Familiarity with the energy-momentum relation E^2 = p^2c^2 + m^2c^4
  • Knowledge of conservation laws in particle physics, particularly conservation of momentum and energy
  • Basic concepts of particle decay processes and the role of massless particles
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the implications of massless particles on momentum calculations in particle physics
  • Explore detailed examples of neutron decay and the resulting particle interactions
  • Learn about the role of conservation laws in complex particle decay scenarios
  • Investigate the properties and behaviors of neutrinos and anti-neutrinos in particle physics
USEFUL FOR

Students and educators in physics, particularly those focusing on particle physics, decay processes, and relativistic mechanics. This discussion is also beneficial for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of momentum in the context of massless particles.

phosgene
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Homework Statement



Consider a neutron which decays at rest. Calculate the momentum of the electron in MeV/c when the proton is produced at rest. (You may assume that the anti-neutrino has zero mass).

Homework Equations



Relativistic momentum = [itex]\gamma(mv)[/itex]

The Attempt at a Solution



Since the neutron is at rest, it has zero momentum. So I'm guessing that the electron has an equal and opposite momentum to the anti-neutrino...but if it has zero mass, how do I work out the momentum? I've also tried playing around with the equation

[itex]E^2 = p^2c^2 + m^2c^4[/itex]

but I still get equations involving the mass, which just give me back zero momentum. I'm also assuming that the electron doesn't just have zero momentum, otherwise it seems like a silly question..
 
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How many particles are the products of the decay? What laws of conservation hold during this decay? How many equations between how many unknowns does this give you?
 
The products are a proton, an electron and an anti-neutrino, andI believe that conservation of energy and momentum laws hold during this process. The equations I get out of this are

momentum of neutron = 0 = total momenta of decay products

as the proton is at rest its momentum = zero

the electron's momentum = unknown

the anti-neutrino's momentum = unknown, but its mass is assumed to be zero.

This is the part where I get stuck. Combining the above equations, I get that the momentum of the electron should be equal and opposite to the momentum of the anti-neutrino..but I don't know how to proceed as I'm not sure how to handle the case where a massless particle has momentum.
 

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