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Pair production is the transformation of electromagnetic energy into matter, into a particle and its antiparticle, usually an electron and a positron. Let's have a look at this situation.

When a high energy gamma ray with a minimum energy of 1.022 MeV passes close to an atomic nucleus, a phenomenon called pair production can occur. In this event, the energy of the gamma ray is converted into mass. It's a play right out of Albert Einstein's quantum mechanical playbook. The electron and positron are opposites of each other, and the appearance of an elementary particle and its antiparticle must obey conservation laws. That's where the "assistance" of a nearby atomic nucleus comes in. The electron and positron will appear and come away from the event with some given kinetic energy, and will scatter and slow down as they move off. The positron, of course, will end up combining with an electron in a mutual annihilation event where the two particles have their mass entirely converted into energy. This will result in a pair of electromagnetic rays, or photons, leaving the annihilation event and moving in opposite directions.

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Pair production is a process in quantum mechanics where a gamma ray photon interacting with a nucleus or an electron creates a particle-antiparticle pair (e.g., electron-positron). The energy of the photon is converted into the mass of the pair, following Einstein's equation E=mc^2. Pair production plays a key role in high-energy physics and quantum field theory.

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Q: What is pair production?
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Can pair production take place in a vacuum?

Yes, pair production can take place in a vacuum. Pair production is a process where a photon interacts with a nucleus, resulting in the creation of a particle-antiparticle pair. This process can occur in a vacuum as long as there is enough energy available to create the pair.


What are the possible modes of photon disintegration?

Photon disintegration can occur through the photoelectric effect, Compton scattering, and pair production. In the photoelectric effect, a photon is absorbed by an atom, ejecting an electron. Compton scattering involves a photon colliding with an electron, causing the photon to lose energy and change direction. Pair production occurs when a photon interacts with the nucleus of an atom, producing an electron-positron pair.


What happens if the energy of a photon exceeds that necessary for pair production?

If the energy of a photon exceeds the threshold energy for pair production, the excess energy will be carried away by the produced particles as kinetic energy. This additional energy will contribute to the speed at which the particles are created and will increase their momentum.


Write down the three distinct way by which gamma radiations interact with matter?

Photoelectric Effect, Compton Effect, and Pair Production.


How momentum is conserved in pair production before and after collision?

In pair production, momentum is conserved before and after the collision because the total momentum of the incoming particles is equal to the total momentum of the outgoing particles. According to the law of conservation of momentum, the total momentum of the system remains constant in the absence of external forces.

Related questions

Can pair production produce in vacuum?

pair production can not produce in vaccum


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What primary economic activities are associated with making a pair of jeans?

Cotton production, dye production, and metal production (for the buttons and rivets).


Can pair production take place in a vacuum?

Yes, pair production can take place in a vacuum. Pair production is a process where a photon interacts with a nucleus, resulting in the creation of a particle-antiparticle pair. This process can occur in a vacuum as long as there is enough energy available to create the pair.


What are the best pair of headphones for studio production?

Beats by DR. DRE


What three manufacturing industries are involved in the production of a pair of skates?

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Is Pair Production possible near black hole?

Yes, pair production is possible near a black hole due to the intense gravitational and electromagnetic fields present in the vicinity. These conditions can lead to the creation of particle-antiparticle pairs from high-energy photons or other particles. The presence of a black hole can affect the dynamics of this process and lead to unique phenomena not observed in other environments.


What are the pair of ligaments covered by laryngeal epithelium that function in sound production?

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What is the effects of gamma on living tissues?

Compton Scattering, Photoelectric Effect, and Pair Production.


Which structure-function pair is mismatched ribosome protein synthesis nucleolus production of ribosomal subunitsmicrotubule muscle contraction Golgi protein trafficking lysosome intracellular?

Nucleolus - production of ribosomal subunits is the mismatched pair. The nucleolus is responsible for ribosomal RNA synthesis and ribosome assembly, but not for the production of ribosomal subunits.


What is the minimum energy to produce ionization?

The minium required energy of a photon that is involved in the creation of an electron-positron pair (which is pair production), is 1.022 MeV.An electron-positron pair has a given probability of being produced when a photon of the stated energy (or a higher energy) passes close the nucleus of an atom. Pair production does not happen "in the presence of a photon" but happens as a direct result of the the actual presence of a photon (having at least the stated energy) in the presence of an atomic nucleus. The presence of an atomic nucleus is necessary to insure conservation of the quantum mechanical characteristics of the event. Said another way, the high energy photon alone cannot spontaneously create the electron-positron pair in pair production. A link can be found below to related questions.


What are the possible modes of photon disintegration?

Photon disintegration can occur through the photoelectric effect, Compton scattering, and pair production. In the photoelectric effect, a photon is absorbed by an atom, ejecting an electron. Compton scattering involves a photon colliding with an electron, causing the photon to lose energy and change direction. Pair production occurs when a photon interacts with the nucleus of an atom, producing an electron-positron pair.