positron
Sign in to saveThe positron or antielectron is the particle with an electric charge of +1e, a spin of 1/2 ħ (the same as the electron), and the same mass as an electron. It is the antiparticle (antimatter counterpart) of the electron. When a positron collides with an electron, annihilation occurs. If this collision occurs at low energies, it results in the production of two or more photons.
AI overview
A positron is a particle with the same mass and spin as an electron but with a positive electric charge instead of negative, making it the antimatter counterpart of the electron. When a positron and electron collide, they annihilate each other and convert into energy in the form of photons, which is the basis for medical imaging technology like PET scans.
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Key facts
- Particle.caption
- Cloud chamber photograph by C. D. Anderson of the first positron ever identified. A 6 mm lead plate separates the chamber. The deflection and direction of the particle's ion trail indicate that the particle is a positron.
- Particle.composition
- Elementary particle
- Particle.statistics
- Fermionic
- Particle.generation
- First
- Particle.interaction
- Gravity, electromagnetic, weak
- Particle.antiparticle
- Electron
- Particle.theorized
- Paul Dirac (1928)
- Particle.discovered
- Carl D. Anderson (1932)
- Particle.symbol
- ,
- Particle.mass
- me
- Particle.mean_lifetime
- stable (same as electron)
- Particle.electric_charge
Article
10 sectionsContents
- History
- Theory
- Experimental clues and discovery
- Natural production
- Observation in cosmic rays
- Artificial production
- Applications
- See also
- References
- External links
The positron or antielectron is the particle with an electric charge of +1e, a spin of 1/2 ħ (the same as the electron), and the same mass as an electron. It is the antiparticle (antimatter counterpart) of the electron. When a positron collides with an electron, annihilation occurs. If this collision occurs at low energies, it results in the production of two or more photons.
Positrons can be created by positron emission radioactive decay (through weak interactions), or by pair production from a sufficiently energetic photon which is interacting with an atom in a material.