Question: An electron (mathrm{e}^{-})and positron (mathrm{e}^{+})moving at the same speed in the Earth reference frame collide head-on and produce a proton (mathrm{p}) and an antiproton (overline{mathrm{p}}).

An electron \(\mathrm{e}^{-}\)and positron \(\mathrm{e}^{+}\)moving at the same speed in the Earth reference frame collide head-on and produce a proton \(\mathrm{p}\) and an antiproton \(\overline{\mathrm{p}}\). The electron and positron have the same mass. The proton and antiproton also have the same mass. The mass of the proton is 1836.15 times the mass of the electron. Calculate, in the Earth reference frame, the minimum value possible for the ratio of the electron's kinetic energy to its internal energy in order to have the reaction \(\mathrm{e}^{-}+\mathrm{e}^{+} \rightarrow \mathrm{p}+\overline{\mathrm{p}}\) take place.

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In order for the reaction between an electron and a positron to produce a proton and an antiproton the total energy of the incoming particles electron ... View full answer

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