fliptomato said:Greetings, I'm curious about parity conservation in the decay[tex]\eta \rightarrow \gamma \gamma[/tex]. The [tex]\eta[/tex] has odd parity, while the product of the two photon parities (each is odd) is even. Now, parity is conserved in the EM interactions, so there must be a factor of (-1) coming in from orbital angular momentum factors--but the two photon final state has no orbital angular momentum. What am I missing here?
Parity is a symmetry operation that determines whether a physical system is unchanged when viewed in a mirror image. In the η to two photon decay, parity refers to the conservation of this symmetry during the decay process.
Parity is important in the η to two photon decay because it helps us understand the fundamental interactions of particles and the laws of physics. It also plays a crucial role in determining the selection rules for the decay and can provide insights into the underlying dynamics of the process.
Parity is determined by looking at the angular distribution of the decay products, specifically the photons. If the distribution is symmetric under mirror reflection, the parity is said to be even (or +1). If it is asymmetric, the parity is odd (or -1).
Parity violation in the η to two photon decay can provide evidence for new physics beyond the Standard Model. It is a rare occurrence that can shed light on the fundamental symmetries of the universe and can lead to new discoveries and theories.
Scientists study parity in the η to two photon decay by analyzing the decay products and measuring their angular distribution. They also use sophisticated detectors and statistical methods to determine the parity of the decay and compare it to theoretical predictions. Additionally, experiments can be designed to specifically test for parity violation in the decay process.