High-energy photons propagating through space can convert into electron-positron pairs by scattering with cosmic microwave background (CMB) photons. Taking the average CMB temperature of 2.8 K, a typical CMB photon will have an energy of roughly 7 × 10-4 eV. Calculate the minimum energy required for the high-energy photon to produce an electron-positron pair (me = 511 keV) if A the CMB photon momentum is perpendicular to that of the high-energy photon

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b. the CMB photon propagates in the direction opposite the high-energy photon.
c. Suppose the CMB photon propagates in the same direction as the high-energy photon. Is it ever
possible for the two photons to collide and produce an electron-positron pair?
If
you
haven't yet read the material in section 11.4.6, please do so before attempting this problem.
Transcribed Image Text:b. the CMB photon propagates in the direction opposite the high-energy photon. c. Suppose the CMB photon propagates in the same direction as the high-energy photon. Is it ever possible for the two photons to collide and produce an electron-positron pair? If you haven't yet read the material in section 11.4.6, please do so before attempting this problem.
High-energy photons propagating through space can convert into electron-positron pairs by scattering with
cosmic microwave background (CMB) photons. Taking the average CMB temperature of 2.8 K, a typical
CMB photon will have an energy of roughly 7 x 10-4 eV. Calculate the minimum energy required for the
high-energy photon to produce an electron-positron pair (me = 511 keV) if
a. the CMB photon momentum is perpendicular to that of the high-energy photon
Transcribed Image Text:High-energy photons propagating through space can convert into electron-positron pairs by scattering with cosmic microwave background (CMB) photons. Taking the average CMB temperature of 2.8 K, a typical CMB photon will have an energy of roughly 7 x 10-4 eV. Calculate the minimum energy required for the high-energy photon to produce an electron-positron pair (me = 511 keV) if a. the CMB photon momentum is perpendicular to that of the high-energy photon
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