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

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