Chapter 12: Q39E (page 557)

Sketch the Feynman diagram if the proposed decay is possible.
$K^{+} \to μ^{+} + {\bar{v}}_{μ}$

Short Answer

Expert verified

The proposed decay is not possible.

Step by step solution

Given data

The proposed reaction is $K^{+} \to μ^{+} + {\bar{v}}_{μ}$

Concept of Feynman diagram

Particle interactions can be represented as Feynman diagrams. Different types of lines are drawn in the diagrams.

Step 3:Find whether the charge is conserved

Conservation of charge is shown below:

$K^{+} \to μ^{+} + {\bar{v}}_{μ} (+ e) \to (+ e) + (0) (+ e) \to (+ e)$

Thus, the charge before the decay and after the decay is equal.

Therefore, the charge is conserved.

Find conservation of mass

Conservation of mass is given below:

$K^{+} \to μ^{+} + {\bar{v}}_{μ} 494 MeV / c^{2} \to 106 MeV / c^{2}$

The mass after the decay is $106 MeV / c^{2}$ less than that of the initial mass $494 MeV / c^{2}$ .

Find conservation of lepton number

Conservation of lepton number:

$K^{+} \to μ^{+} + {\bar{v}}_{μ} (0) \to (- 1) + (- 1) (0) \to (- 2)$

The lepton number is not conserved.

Therefore, this decay is not possible.

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Sketch the Feynman diagram if the proposed decay is possible.
$K^{+} \to μ^{+} + {\bar{v}}_{μ}$

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Given data

Concept of Feynman diagram

Step 3:Find whether the charge is conserved

Find conservation of mass

Find conservation of lepton number

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Sketch the Feynman diagram if the proposed decay is possible.K+→μ++v¯μ

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Given data

Concept of Feynman diagram

Step 3:Find whether the charge is conserved

Find conservation of mass

Find conservation of lepton number

One App. One Place for Learning.

Most popular questions from this chapter

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

Physics of Motion

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Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sketch the Feynman diagram if the proposed decay is possible.
$K^{+} \to μ^{+} + {\bar{v}}_{μ}$