Photon Energy for Muon Pair Production and Electron Wavelength Calculation

In summary, the minimum energy required to create a muon pair is determined by the rest mass of the muons, which is 1.9*10^-28kg. The wavelength of an electron with the same total energy can be found using the equation E=h*f and de Broglie's equation, where h is Planck's Constant and f is the frequency of the photon.
  • #1
mk9898
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Homework Statement


What is the minimal amount of energy that a photon needs to create a muon pair?
What is the wavelength of an electron with the same total energy?
Tip: Muons have a rest mass of 1.9*10^-28kg and electrons 9.1*10^-31.

The Attempt at a Solution


I tried to use this formula:

##E_{\gamma} = 2m_{\mu} c^2 + 2\frac{m^2_{\mu}}{m_{nucleus}}c^2##

but there is no atom given I cannot use m_nucleus.
 
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  • #2
Perhaps you should set formulas aside and do a little bit of thinking. What quantities are conserved in this process?
 
  • #3
I don't think that is the right formula.
$$E=h * f $$

That is how you find the energy of a particle. Where h is Planck's Constant and f is the frequency of the photon. Wavelength can be found using de Broglie.
$$ \lambda= \frac { h} {p}$$
 
Last edited:

1. What is photon energy and how is it related to muon pair production?

Photon energy is the energy carried by a single photon, which is a particle of light. In the process of muon pair production, a high-energy photon interacts with the electromagnetic field of a nucleus, converting its energy into the mass of two muons. The higher the photon energy, the more likely it is to produce muon pairs.

2. How is the electron wavelength calculated in this process?

The electron wavelength is calculated using the de Broglie wavelength formula, which states that the wavelength of a particle is equal to Planck's constant divided by the particle's momentum. In the case of muon pair production, the electron's momentum can be calculated using the energy and mass of the muons and the conservation of momentum.

3. What factors affect the photon energy required for muon pair production?

The main factor that affects the photon energy required for muon pair production is the mass of the muons. The more massive the muons, the higher the energy of the photon needed to produce them. Other factors that can affect the required photon energy include the atomic number of the nucleus and the angle at which the photon interacts with the nucleus.

4. How is the energy of the muon pair related to the energy of the photon?

The energy of the muon pair is equal to the energy of the photon minus the rest mass energy of the two muons. This is due to the conversion of the photon's energy into the mass of the muons during the process of muon pair production.

5. What are the applications of studying photon energy for muon pair production and electron wavelength calculation?

Studying photon energy for muon pair production and electron wavelength calculation can help us better understand the fundamental interactions between particles and the electromagnetic field. It also has practical applications in fields such as particle physics, astrophysics, and medical imaging. Additionally, this research can contribute to the development of new technologies and techniques for high-energy particle detection and manipulation.

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