Navigation section
VIDEO A Quantum Collision Just Created Matter From Light
- Thread starter whoosh
- Start date
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2023
- Messages
- 75,105
A Quantum Collision Just Created Matter From Light
In a groundbreaking experiment, physicists at the Brookhaven National Laboratory have achieved a remarkable feat: they have successfully created matter from light, specifically from photons. This achievement is intrinsically tied to one of the most famous equations in physics, Albert Einstein's E=mc², which illustrates the deep relationship between mass and energy.
For years, scientists have been exploring the direct connection between these two fundamental entities. Einstein’s equation proposes that mass can be converted into energy and vice versa, underpinning many processes we observe in the universe. For example, the Sun is a continuous example of this conversion, transforming around 4.26 million metric tons of its mass into energy every second, powering our solar system.
However, the challenge has always been demonstrating the reverse process—converting energy back into mass. According to quantum physics, when two particles collide, they may annihilate each other and release energy. Following this logic, if two high-energy photons collide, they could indeed create matter, producing a particle and its antiparticle, a phenomenon known as the Breit-Wheeler Process, initially theorized in 1934 by physicists Gregory Breit and John Wheeler.
While the theoretical framework was established long ago, experimental verification has proven elusive due to the necessity of generating gamma-ray photons from lasers, a technology that has not yet been realized. Instead, recent experiments utilized accelerated heavy ions, which move close to the speed of light and create an electromagnetic field filled with virtual photons.
In the latest demonstration, researchers accelerated two positively charged ions and directed them so that their crowds of virtual photons would intersect. The experiment successfully produced real electron-positron pairs, indicating a collision consistent with the hypothesized Breit-Wheeler process. Notably, the behavior of the virtual photons closely mimicked that of real photons, as confirmed by analyzing over 6,000 electron-positron pair angles produced during the experiment.
This accomplishment marks a significant step forward in particle physics, even as it stirs debate over the nature of virtual particles and whether they can truly replicate the properties of real photons. Nonetheless, it's a fascinating development that opens new avenues for exploration in the realm of high-energy physics and astrophysics.
If you're interested in delving deeper into astrophysics concepts at home, consider checking out the "Basics of Astrophysics" series, which covers foundational topics from the electromagnetic spectrum to black holes.
---
What are your thoughts on this experiment? Do you think the distinction between virtual and real photons will be a significant factor in future research? Share your insights below!
In a groundbreaking experiment, physicists at the Brookhaven National Laboratory have achieved a remarkable feat: they have successfully created matter from light, specifically from photons. This achievement is intrinsically tied to one of the most famous equations in physics, Albert Einstein's E=mc², which illustrates the deep relationship between mass and energy.
For years, scientists have been exploring the direct connection between these two fundamental entities. Einstein’s equation proposes that mass can be converted into energy and vice versa, underpinning many processes we observe in the universe. For example, the Sun is a continuous example of this conversion, transforming around 4.26 million metric tons of its mass into energy every second, powering our solar system.
However, the challenge has always been demonstrating the reverse process—converting energy back into mass. According to quantum physics, when two particles collide, they may annihilate each other and release energy. Following this logic, if two high-energy photons collide, they could indeed create matter, producing a particle and its antiparticle, a phenomenon known as the Breit-Wheeler Process, initially theorized in 1934 by physicists Gregory Breit and John Wheeler.
While the theoretical framework was established long ago, experimental verification has proven elusive due to the necessity of generating gamma-ray photons from lasers, a technology that has not yet been realized. Instead, recent experiments utilized accelerated heavy ions, which move close to the speed of light and create an electromagnetic field filled with virtual photons.
In the latest demonstration, researchers accelerated two positively charged ions and directed them so that their crowds of virtual photons would intersect. The experiment successfully produced real electron-positron pairs, indicating a collision consistent with the hypothesized Breit-Wheeler process. Notably, the behavior of the virtual photons closely mimicked that of real photons, as confirmed by analyzing over 6,000 electron-positron pair angles produced during the experiment.
This accomplishment marks a significant step forward in particle physics, even as it stirs debate over the nature of virtual particles and whether they can truly replicate the properties of real photons. Nonetheless, it's a fascinating development that opens new avenues for exploration in the realm of high-energy physics and astrophysics.
If you're interested in delving deeper into astrophysics concepts at home, consider checking out the "Basics of Astrophysics" series, which covers foundational topics from the electromagnetic spectrum to black holes.
---
What are your thoughts on this experiment? Do you think the distinction between virtual and real photons will be a significant factor in future research? Share your insights below!
Similar threads
- Featured
- Article
- Featured
- Article
- Featured
- Article
- Featured
- Article