Pair Production
Key Stage 5
Meaning
Pair Production is the process in which a very high energy gamma ray photon produces a matter-antimatter particle pair.
About Pair Production
- Pair Production occurs most often when a very high energy gamma ray passes close to a nucleus. However it can happen at any time in free space.
- During Pair Production the total energy of the photon is converted into the rest mass of the particle pair.
- In Pair Production conservation of momentum is conserved due to the momentum of the two particles after the their production.
Equation
\(hf=2E_0\)
Where
\(E_0\) = Rest Mass Energy of each particle
\(hf\) = The energy of gamma ray photon prior to the production
\(h\) = Planck's Constant