Proton/Antiproton collision to produce top/anti-top quark pair:

In summary, the conversation discusses a collision between a proton and antiproton with the goal of producing a top quark and anti-top quark pair. The question asks for the amount of energy required in the center of mass frame to produce this combination, taking into account relativistic principles. The suggested approach involves finding the initial and final masses and compensating for the increase in energy with the kinetic energy of the colliding protons. Additionally, it is hypothesized that the top and anti-top have equal and opposite momenta with small magnitudes compared to their mass. The final question asks for the center of mass energy in the final state.
  • #1
eden2291
6
0
Consider a proton and antiproton collision. The goal is to produce a top quark and anti-top quark pair. If a top quark has a mass of 174 GeV/c2, how much energy is required in the center of mass frame to produce the combination?

I'm somewhat utterly stumped. Obviously, the problem deals with a collision (I'd assume inelastic since the pair derived from the collision is a single mass?) in which relativistic principles need to be taken into consideration. So, my feeble initial attempt is to find the initial versus final mass, wherein:
Minitial=2(proton mass)
Mfinal=2(top-quark mass)
And then compensate for the increase in energy by finding the kinetic energy of the colliding protons. But again, this is little more than a guess.

THANKS FOR THE HELP!
 
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  • #2
Suppose that the top and anti top have equal and opposite momenta. Further suppose that the magnitudes of their momenta is very small compared to their mass. What is the center of mass energy in the final state?
 

1. What is a proton-antiproton collision?

A proton-antiproton collision is a type of particle collision that occurs when a proton (a positively charged subatomic particle) and an antiproton (a negatively charged subatomic particle) are accelerated and collide with each other at high speeds.

2. How does a proton-antiproton collision produce top/anti-top quark pairs?

In a proton-antiproton collision, the energy from the collision is converted into mass, creating new particles. One of the possible outcomes is the production of a top quark and an anti-top quark, which are the heaviest known subatomic particles. This occurs due to the strong interaction between the protons and antiprotons.

3. Why is the production of top/anti-top quark pairs important in particle physics?

The production of top/anti-top quark pairs is important because it allows scientists to study the properties and behavior of these particles, which can provide insights into the fundamental forces and building blocks of the universe. The top quark, in particular, is of interest as it is the only known up-type quark and has a very short lifespan, making it difficult to study using other methods.

4. How do scientists detect and measure the top/anti-top quark pairs produced from a proton-antiproton collision?

Scientists use large and sophisticated detectors, such as the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), to study proton-antiproton collisions and their resulting particles. These detectors can measure the energy, momentum, and charge of the particles produced, allowing scientists to identify and study the top/anti-top quark pairs.

5. What can the study of top/anti-top quark pairs tell us about the early universe?

The production and behavior of top/anti-top quark pairs can provide insights into the conditions of the early universe, as well as the evolution and interactions of particles in the early stages of the universe's formation. By studying these particles, scientists hope to gain a better understanding of the fundamental laws and processes that govern our universe.

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