IV.

PAIR PRODIJCTION 151

In laboratory frame In null-momentum frame

of reference R. of reference R:

- e
photon

energy = hv
4
(at rest 1
mass=m,
--
lelocity o f d n ~ . r ios~+ p c
photon

enerqy=hv' mass=m
4

mom.= hv c mom.=v mom=-mlgc

T=c*(m-rn.~
v=-@
L , [F-mpc=o]

Qi
411 electrons move in photon Photon onnihiloted, and
direction. 8 ~ c r e o t e d . o 1 ~ e ~ c t matnrest.
s
C

FIGURE 7.19. Triplet-production kinematics at the minimum photon energy threshold, hv =

hvmi,,. Diagrams at left apply to the laboratory frame of reference R, those at right to moving
frame of reference R'. The momentum of the photon-electron system is zero in R'.

Substitution of Eq. (7.46) to eliminate v' in Eq. (7.45) allows solution for 0:
a!
p=- (7.47)
l+a!

in which
hv
(7.48)

The minimum photon energy, hvmin,necessary for triplet production can be de-
rived by noting that the sum of the photon energy hvki, and the electron kinetic energy
Trelative to R' mustjust equal the total rest massofthe electron and positron created.
That is,

(7.49)

where