Annihilation is annihilation. That is how this term is translated from Latin. In this article we will try to consider the meaning of the term and determine for ourselves its properties and characteristics. A little attention will also be paid to the transformation of matter at different levels of the structuring of the Universe.
general information
Annihilation is a reaction that accompanies the transition of particles and antiparticles into their other forms, different from the initial components of the interaction. In other words, this is a transformation that begins when particles of matter and antimatter collide.
The most famous and studied phenomenon of annihilation is the interaction of particles and antiparticles, such as an electron and a positron.
If such elementary particles collide at low energies or in a bound state - positronium, then new “fragments” of the universe are formed: this leads to the appearance of two or three photons. The final figure depends on how the spins of the electrons and positrons are oriented. In the case when the energy order reaches several MeV, electron – positron pairs are given the opportunity to carry out multiphoton annihilation. Hadrons - particles subject to strong interactions, are most often "born" when the energy reaches several hundred MeV.
About Matter and Antimatter
Annihilation is the interaction of matter and antimatter. But what is she like?
Most often, mysterious and mystical meanings are attributed to her. However, they are not in fact. Popularizers of science, such as, for example, Dan Brown in their book Angels and Demons, try to show this.
For each particle there is an antiparticle. There are also such elements of matter that are themselves an antiparticle, but for this it is necessary to satisfy certain conditions that determine their properties (for example, the neutrality of an electric charge). The electron and proton have an antimaterial opponent with the opposite charge. A neutron is a special neutral particle that is not an antiparticle of itself. This is due to the fact that the neutron has more quarks than antiquarks, and the opposite picture of the structure is observed in the antineutron.
Most often in physics they do not use the prefix “anti”, since, based on the context of the dialogue or recording, it is clear what is being said. For example, the interaction of a muon and an antimuon is often called simply a muon pair, or, speaking of the decay of the structure into quarks and antiquarks, they speak only of quark decay, without mentioning both.
Operation of the theory of relativity
Annihilation is a method of converting the rest energies (E 0 ) that particles possess into kinetic energy, which is a reaction product. In the event of a collision of a particle and its "antipode", mutual destruction of both occurs. During this reaction, a tremendous amount of energy resources are released: E = 2E 0 = 2mc 2 , where 2E 0 is the characteristic of the rest energy, c is the speed of the photons in the vacuum space, and m is the mass.
Based on the formula above, it is possible to calculate the energy release, for example, for a value of 1 kg. During the interaction of such a mass of antimatter with matter, 1.8 * 10 17 will be allocated. This number is equivalent to the energy release observed during the explosion of 42.96 megatons of trinitrotoluene. This nuclear weapon to this day is the most powerful means of destruction ever exploding on the planet.
The figure below is a general illustration of the collision of the annihilation of an electron and a positron. It is called the Feynman chart.
Muon and antimuon
Annihilation is the transformation of matter and antimatter. This is equivalent for any levels of the elementary structure of the universe. Suppose we have a muon and an antimuon in a certain limited space, which are in a practically resting state. The energy of this space will correspond to the energy potential of the mass of the muon and its "antipode". Saying "practically", we mean lowering the value of the electric field. If the mass of the muon is M, then the energy of its mass is M = c 2 . This is equivalent to anti-muon. Energy and mass are interconnected.
Further transformations
Annihilation is a kind of transition from one state of matter to another.
The reaction demonstrating the transformation of matter at different levels of organization is the interaction of the muon and antimuon. It leads to the formation of an electron and a positron through the "birth" of other elementary particles interacting with each other and forming e - and e + .
The muon and photon, instead of being converted into photons, are converted into positrons and electrons.
If e - or e + are at rest, then they will "flow" into the form of a photon in exactly the same form as muons and antimuons do.
It will also be important to know that antielectrons and electrons can go into muons and antimuons. However, this requires the observance of a certain circumstance - e - and e + must have great energy of movement and collide with each other with great strength. A “skirmish” of particles is possible only if the energy mentioned here is extremely high.