Can anyone tell me what a positron is?its something to do with nuclear & modern physics!?

Question

Bachelor of science(physics&mathematics) final year student

Answer 1

Here is a different approach based on the math prediction. You know that the sqrt(4)=2 and sqrt(4)=-2 right.

The idea for the positron came from a similar, but more complicated, equation. Basically the positron solves the same wave equation as the electron but is the negative root. Later experiments identified the particle in bubble chambers.

Answer 2

What is a positron?

A positron is an anti-matter electron (yes, there is such a thing as anti-matter!). It is identical to the electron in mass, but has an opposite charge of +1 (the electron is defined to have a charge of -1)
Where do positrons come from?

Positrons can come from a number of sources. However, in PET they are all produced by nuclear decay. Basically unstable nuclei are produced in a cyclotron by bombarding target material with protons. A typical reaction is to have a bombarding proton enter the nucleus of the target material and kick a neutron out in the process. For example, bombarding 18-O (an isotope of oxygen that has two extra neutrons relative to the familiar 16-O) results in the proton being captured and a neutron being ejected from the target nucleus. Changing the number of protons in the nucleus changes the atomic species and in this case the atom is changed from oxygen to fluorine. You can represent this as [18-O + proton => 18-F + neutron]. Other reactions are also possible, e.g., nitrogen to carbon with the participants being [14-N + proton => 11-C + alpha] (an alpha particle is composed of two protons and two neutrons). The new nucleus created in this manner is unstable and eventually decays into a more stable form. The time it takes for this decay to occur depends on the particular species created, and can range from the almost instantaneous to thousands of years.

Answer 3

It is a positively charged electron. Its spin is opposite that of an electron. Positrons are formed when a high energy electromagnetic wave enters near the center of an atom's nucleus. "Electron pairs" are formed at that time. Each of the two having opposite charges.

Positrons are ""antimatter", meaning that as soon as they meet with another mass having an opposite charge, they convert into radiation. They, also, cause an equal amount of mass they meet with to convert into radiation.

Answer 4

An elementary particle having the same mass and magnitude of charge as an electron but exhibiting a positive charge; a positive electron. Also called antielectron.

Answer 5

A particle with a mass similar to an electron but with a positive charge. It is basically an anti-electron. It is an antimatter particle.