In: Physics
The interaction of one photon with another can be
understood
by assuming that each photon can temporarily become a
“virtual”
electron-positron pair in free space, and the respective
pairs can then interact electromagnetically. (a) How long
does
the uncertainty principle allow a virtual electron-positron
pair
to exist if h 2mc2, where m is the electron mass? (b) If
h 2mc2, can you use the notion of virtual
electron-positron
pairs to explain the role of a nucleus in the production of
an
actual pair, apart from its function in ensuring the
conservation
of both energy and momentum?