Pair Production Calculator
Calculate electron-positron pair production from high-energy gamma photons
Pair production requires a minimum photon energy of 1.022 MeV (twice the electron rest mass). The process must occur near a nucleus to conserve momentum.
Physics of Pair Production
- Threshold: E ≥ 2m_e c² = 1.022 MeV
- Creates electron (e⁻) and positron (e⁺)
- Requires nucleus for momentum conservation
- Excess energy becomes kinetic energy
Formulas Used
Threshold: E_min = 2m_e c² = 1.022 MeV
Kinetic Energy: KE = E_photon - 2m_e c²
Lorentz factor: γ = E_total / m_e c²