Pair Production Energy: Formula & Wavelength

In summary, the formula for the energy of an electron or positron created through pair production is at least 1.022 MeV, which is the rest energy of the pair. This energy must come from a photon with a wavelength that can create the pair. In anihilation, two gamma rays of ~0.511 MeV are formed. In a vacuum, pair production can still occur, but the electron and positron would not be confined to an atom.
  • #1
HarryDaniels
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In pair production, what is the formula for the energy of an electron or positron of this conversion.

Also, what is the wavelength of a photon that can create an electron positron pair.
 
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  • #2
HarryDaniels said:
In pair production, what is the formula for the energy of an electron or positron of this conversion.

Also, what is the wavelength of a photon that can create an electron positron pair.
One needs a photon of an energy equivalent to at least the rest energy of the electron-positron pair, i.e., 1.022 MeV, in which case the electron and positron don't wander too far from the atom. The positron would anihilate, and the electron (with others) would find a way to fill the hole left by the annihilated electron.

In anihilation, at least two gamma rays of ~0.511 MeV are formed.
 
  • #3
So what else would be included. The energy of the photon would be the resting energy of electron and positron plus there kinetic energy? What else comes into it?

What about in a vacuum, a pair production without an atom?
 

1. What is pair production energy?

Pair production energy is the minimum amount of energy required to create a particle-antiparticle pair from a single photon. It is an important concept in quantum mechanics and is often used in particle physics experiments.

2. What is the formula for pair production energy?

The formula for pair production energy is E = 2mec^2, where E is the energy, m is the rest mass of the particle, and c is the speed of light. This formula was derived by physicist Max Born in 1934.

3. How is pair production energy related to wavelength?

The energy of a photon is directly proportional to its frequency, which is inversely proportional to its wavelength. Therefore, the shorter the wavelength of a photon, the higher its energy and the greater its potential for pair production.

4. What is the significance of pair production energy?

Pair production energy is significant because it allows us to understand and predict the behavior of subatomic particles. It also has practical applications in medical imaging technologies, such as positron emission tomography (PET) scans.

5. Can pair production energy be observed in everyday life?

No, pair production energy cannot be observed in everyday life as it requires extremely high-energy photons, such as those found in particle accelerators. However, the effects of pair production can be observed indirectly through the creation of particle-antiparticle pairs in high-energy collisions.

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