I am studying particle accelerators and tungsten is mentioned as the target for an electron beam in order to make positrons. Can lead (or any element) be used for the target, or is it only tungsten? Thanks.
2006-07-22 05:46:44 · 2 answers · asked by Kolinahr7 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Any source of electrons will do. Higher density materials simply have a higher density of them, so the more positrons are generated with a thinner target. It is collisions with other electrons that create the positrons (electron positron pairs, actually). The minimum electron energy of the incident electron for a stationary target is determined by when the electron's kinetic energy in the center of mass frame equals it's rest mass energy mc^2. You will at some point, or have had already, the solution to that as a homework problem, I'm sure. Good luck with your studies.
2006-07-22 07:05:33 · answer #1 · answered by Dr. R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
IF YOU FIRE AN ELECTRON BEAM AT Pb IT'LL DECAY INTO Au. YEAH, GOLD! MAKE GOLD AS MANY AS YOU CAN AND GIMME 10 PERCENT OF WHAT YOU'VE EARNED.
DO YOU WORK WITH PARTICLE ACCELERATORS? DO YOU STUDY DARK ENERGY? STOP WASTING TIME BY DOING USELESS THINGS LIKE THAT, TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GENERATE POWER FROM NOTHING.
2006-07-22 06:05:06 · answer #2 · answered by the conspirator 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋