Particle- antiparticle annihilation, how is it understood?

In summary, physicists understand annihilation by looking at it as two waves that become energy when they annihilate.
  • #1
alemsalem
175
5
How do physicists understand or "visualize" annihilation without Dirac's hole theory?
 
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  • #2
The way I see it is that a particle and an anti particle can be seen as two waves, a sine and cosine for example. Two waves that are out of fase with each other and thus anihilate upon contact.

Kinda how light and sound waves can be extenguished with their anti-wave
 
  • #3
alemsalem said:
How do physicists understand or "visualize" annihilation without Dirac's hole theory?

The particle and anti-particle does not disappear but releases energy. Since mass is one form of energy, the masses of the particle/anti-particle are transformed, possibly into a photon.
 
  • #4
Or pure energy, which gives off a nice yield :P
 
  • #5
kaksmet said:
The particle and anti-particle does not disappear but releases energy. Since mass is one form of energy, the masses of the particle/anti-particle are transformed, possibly into a photon.

But is the process described in more detail, or do we just say the electron and positron's energy is converted into another form and predict probabilities for different things to happen..

I'm not sure how meaningful this question is,, Dirac's hole theory describes the process as an electron recombining with a hole in a negative energy state, but a positron isn't a hole, and I was wondering if there is a more modern theory that describes the process in such a simple and beautiful way.
 
  • #6
Synetos said:
Or pure energy, which gives off a nice yield :P

There is no such thing as "pure energy," except in science fiction. Energy is a property of something. In particle-antiparticle annihilation, the total energy of the original particle and antiparticle equals the total energy of the photons that are produced in the annihilation.
 
  • #7
That was interesting jtbell. And you're sure that you can't define energy to SpaceTime without it representing some sort of 'particle'?

So everything must be 'particles'?
=

What would then 'space' be?
Virtual particles?
Or indeterminacy?
 

1. What is particle-antiparticle annihilation?

Particle-antiparticle annihilation is a process in which a particle and its corresponding antiparticle collide and are converted into energy. This process is governed by the laws of quantum mechanics and is an important concept in particle physics.

2. How is particle-antiparticle annihilation understood?

Particle-antiparticle annihilation is understood through the study of quantum field theory, which describes the interactions between particles and antiparticles. It is also studied through experiments, such as those conducted at particle colliders, to observe the energy and particles produced during annihilation.

3. What happens during particle-antiparticle annihilation?

During particle-antiparticle annihilation, the particle and antiparticle are both annihilated and their energy is converted into other particles, such as photons or other types of particles. The total energy and momentum must be conserved during this process.

4. Why is particle-antiparticle annihilation important?

Particle-antiparticle annihilation is important because it helps us understand the fundamental properties and interactions of particles at a subatomic level. It also plays a crucial role in the formation and evolution of the universe, as it is responsible for the production of energy in the early stages of the Big Bang.

5. Can particle-antiparticle annihilation be observed?

Yes, particle-antiparticle annihilation can be observed and has been observed in various experiments, such as at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. The energy and particles produced during annihilation can be detected and studied to gain a better understanding of this process.

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