Question

What is ‘Pair production’?

Answer the following question briefly and to the point:

What is Pair production?

Answer 1

An electron and a positron are produced when an intense γ-ray photon strikes a heavy material. One of the substance’s nuclei is responsible for absorbing the photon. Pair creation is the term used to describe this process of energy being transformed into mass.

Equation: \[\ce{\underset{(γ-Photon)}{γ} = \underset{(Electron)}{_-1β^0} + \underset{(Positron)}{_+1β^0}}\]

Answer 2

In a semiconductor, when a covalent bond is broken, the electron comes out, leaving behind a hole (deficiency of electrons). Thus, an electron-hole pair is formed by rupturing a covalent bond.

Answer 3

A positron pair from a gamma ray (or radiation) photon passes close to an atomic nucleus.