- #1
steve0606
- 11
- 0
I am learing the particle physics bit of my physics course and don't understand how momentum is conserved when a photon produces an electron/positron pair.
In the bubble chamber chamber picture here:
http://www.sciencephoto.com/image/1...ctron-positron_pair_matter_antimatter-SPL.jpg
I don't understand why the particles produced (that is the electron and positron) appear to initially move backwards. Surely if the photon is traveling in a more or less straight line before it decays the reultant particles would move initially perpendicular to the direction of the photon in order for the resultant momentum to stay zero?
Also why is one spiral bigger than the other?
Thanks
In the bubble chamber chamber picture here:
http://www.sciencephoto.com/image/1...ctron-positron_pair_matter_antimatter-SPL.jpg
I don't understand why the particles produced (that is the electron and positron) appear to initially move backwards. Surely if the photon is traveling in a more or less straight line before it decays the reultant particles would move initially perpendicular to the direction of the photon in order for the resultant momentum to stay zero?
Also why is one spiral bigger than the other?
Thanks