- #1
Einj
- 470
- 59
Hi all. I have a (probably stupid) question about e[itex]^{+}[/itex]e[itex]^{-}[/itex] annihilation. I was reading about the emission of two 511keV photons which is the electron's mass. But, is this energy fixed every time e[itex]^{+}[/itex]e[itex]^{-}[/itex] annihilates in a two photons or is just the energy of the positronium dacay?
My idea is that in e[itex]^{+}[/itex]e[itex]^{-}[/itex] → γ γ the energy of the two photons must be equal, and equal to one half the total energy in the initial state. But who tells me that this initial energy is just the sum of electron e positron masses?? Don't we have a contribution from their momentum??
My idea is that in e[itex]^{+}[/itex]e[itex]^{-}[/itex] → γ γ the energy of the two photons must be equal, and equal to one half the total energy in the initial state. But who tells me that this initial energy is just the sum of electron e positron masses?? Don't we have a contribution from their momentum??