Why Do Photons from Electrons Split into Particles?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the processes involving photons emitted by electrons, particularly focusing on the phenomena of pair production and the implications of charge and mass measurements in quantum field theory (QFT). Participants explore the relationship between energy, mass, and charge in the context of high-energy collisions and particle interactions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions why photons emitted by electrons can lead to the creation of electron-positron pairs and how this relates to charge and mass measurements.
  • Another participant suggests that the processes may involve electromagnetic showers and pair production, indicating that high-energy electrons and photons can interact with nuclei to produce particles.
  • Energy-mass equivalence (E=mc²) is mentioned as a principle that balances before and after pair production, though its implications are debated.
  • Concerns are raised about the measurement of charge versus mass, with one participant asserting that the presence of positrons should affect charge measurements, while others argue that charge and mass measurements are fundamentally different.
  • There is a discussion about the nature of positron measurements, with some participants clarifying that measurements can be done separately for positrons and electrons.
  • One participant introduces the concept of loop corrections in QFT, emphasizing that these are not real particles but rather a model to describe particle behavior.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying levels of understanding and interpretation of the original question, leading to multiple competing views on the relationship between charge, mass, and the behavior of particles in QFT. The discussion remains unresolved with no consensus on the specific questions raised.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include potential misunderstandings of the original question, the complexity of charge and mass interactions, and the nuances of quantum field theory that may not be fully addressed in the discussion.

StarsRuler
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¿ Why the photons emitted by an electron are desintegrated in a photon, and then in an electron a positron?

The positive charge stay near the electron doing that charge stay minus than its real value. But, ¿ why don´t matter the same with the mass??
 
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At least for me, it is hard to guess what you are asking.

¿ Why the photons emitted by an electron are desintegrated in a photon, and then in an electron a positron?
Do you think of electromagnetic showers and pair production here? If high-energetic electrons come close to a nucleus, they can emit high-energetic photons.
If high-energetic photons come close to a nucleus, they can produce an electron and a positron. It is possible to describe those processes with quantum field theory, but physics cannot answer "why" on a fundamental level. We can just observe the universe, and make theories to match those observations.

The positive charge stay near the electron doing that charge stay minus than its real value. But, ¿ why don´t matter the same with the mass??
I don't understand that.
 
E=mc^2, energy-mass equivalence does balance before and after the pair-production.
 
About the questions, I ask the question in the frame of QFT, of course. On respect the second question, well, if all positrons stays near the electron, same you must measure a minor charge because you are really measuring the positron masses with the electron mass, a bigger mass ( the electron mass and all the positron masses) must be measured too. But the second affirmation is not certain.
 
if all positrons stays near the electron
Why should positrons stay near some electrons?
They can form positronium (bound state of electron+positron), but that is rare in high-energetic collisions.
same you must measure a minor charge
Where do you measure which charge how?
because you are really measuring the positron masses with the electron mass
Charge measurements and mass measurement are different.
 
Charge measurements and mass measurement are different.

Of course, they are different. But no relation with my question
 
I don't understand your question then.

Positron measurements are done on positrons alone, without electrons.
 
Positron measurements are done on positrons alone, without electrons.

No, the shielded charge we measure is the charge of electron+ positrons cloud, but if we measure the mass of electron+positrons cloud, the result wolud be bigger . Why in the charge case the measurement is joint and in mass case is disjoint?
__________________

Ok, I take care now. The gravitational force is negligible at this scales. Thanks anyway.
 
Last edited:
Ah now I think I get it. you mean loop corrections?
Those are not "electrons close to positrons" or whatever - those loops are not real particles. They are a model to describe how QFT gives particles; the bare mass is some number that influences the "particle mass", those two are not the same.
 

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