In: Physics
A neutral pion, π0, moving at 0.999c relative to the lab frame decays into two massless particles. One particle moves in the same direction as the pion did while the other moves in the opposite direction. The pion has a mass of 135 GeV/c2. What are the energy and momentum of the massless particles as measured in the lab frame? As measured in the pion’s rest frame?
First of all please check the mass of pion. I think it is 135 MeV/c^2. For the time being, I am taking it t be 135 GeV/c^2
Rest energy of the pion = 135 GeV
From the conservation of total energy the energy of massless particles are
And absolute value of momentum is
So from conservation of momentum, for massless particle
In the pion's rest frame
Momentum is given as