- #1
snorkack
- 2,242
- 489
Besides the energetic preference (lower threshold, and more phase space above)?
Antineutrino capture is a weak process, so it can and does change quark flavour.
p+ν=n+e+
is actually
uud+ν=udd+e+
that is
u+ν=d+e+
But given enough energy (like cosmic ray neutrinos), do antineutrinos also get captured:
p+ν=Λ+e+?
Because this is just
udu+ν=uds+e+
that is
u+ν=s+e+
As you see, even though baryon charges match, a process
p+ν=Ξ+e+
would be obstructed, because Ξ has 2 s quarks. But process
p+ν=Λb+e+
should be just
u+ν=b+e+
Obviously these processes are impossible below energy threshold, and above they have a phase space factor. But at high energies, does proton conversion into n vs conversion into any specified flavour of Λ approach ratio of unity, or will any difference remain?
Antineutrino capture is a weak process, so it can and does change quark flavour.
p+ν=n+e+
is actually
uud+ν=udd+e+
that is
u+ν=d+e+
But given enough energy (like cosmic ray neutrinos), do antineutrinos also get captured:
p+ν=Λ+e+?
Because this is just
udu+ν=uds+e+
that is
u+ν=s+e+
As you see, even though baryon charges match, a process
p+ν=Ξ+e+
would be obstructed, because Ξ has 2 s quarks. But process
p+ν=Λb+e+
should be just
u+ν=b+e+
Obviously these processes are impossible below energy threshold, and above they have a phase space factor. But at high energies, does proton conversion into n vs conversion into any specified flavour of Λ approach ratio of unity, or will any difference remain?