155k views
3 votes
Each of the following reactions is forbidden. Determine a conservation law that is violated for each reaction.

(a) p + p → µ+ + e-
lepton number
strangeness
charge
baryon number
(b) - + p → p + +
charmness
baryon number
charge
lepton number
(c) p + p → p + +
strangeness
baryon number
lepton number
charge
(d) p + p → p + p + n
charmness
charge
baryon number
lepton number
(e) + p → n + 0
baryon number
charge
lepton number
charmness


`

Each of the following reactions is forbidden. Determine a conservation law that is violated for each reaction.
(a) p + p → µ+ + e-
lepton number
strangeness
charge
baryon number
(b) - + p → p + +
charmness
baryon number
charge
lepton number
(c) p + p → p + +
strangeness
baryon number
lepton number
charge
(d) p + p → p + p + n
charmness
charge
baryon number
lepton number
(e) + p → n + 0
baryon number
charge
lepton number
charmness

1 Answer

3 votes

The reactions violate various conservation laws: (a) violates charge conservation; (b) violates lepton number conservation; (c) violates charge conservation; (d) violates baryon number conservation; (e) violates charge conservation.

Elementary particle interactions must obey certain conservation laws, and when these are violated, the reactions are considered forbidden. Let's analyze each reaction provided.

Charge conservation is violated in the reaction p + p → µ+ + e-, as the initial state has a total charge of +2 (from two protons) and the final state has a total charge of 0.

For the reaction - + p → p + +, assuming that the '-' represents a negatively charged particle and '+' represents a positively charged particle, the reaction violates lepton number conservation because leptons are not balanced in the process.

In the reaction p + p → p + +, again assuming '+' represents a positively charged particle, the reaction violates charge conservation, as the charge is not conserved between the initial and final states.

The reaction p + p → p + p + n violates baryon number conservation because there are three baryons in the final state and only two in the initial state.

Lastly, the reaction + p → n + 0 violates charge conservation if '+' represents a positively charged particle, as the initial charge (+1 from proton) is not equal to the final charge (0 from neutron).

User Quy Le
by
8.4k points