positron

Also known as antielectron, positive electron

The positron or antielectron is the particle with an electric charge of +1e, a spin of 1/2 ħ (the same as the electron), and the same mass as an electron. It is the antiparticle (antimatter counterpart) of the electron. When a positron collides with an electron, annihilation occurs. If this collision occurs at low energies, it results in the production of two or more photons.

AI overview

A positron is a particle with the same mass and spin as an electron but with a positive electric charge instead of negative, making it the antimatter counterpart of the electron. When a positron and electron collide, they annihilate each other and convert into energy in the form of photons, which is the basis for medical imaging technology like PET scans.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Key facts

Particle.caption: Cloud chamber photograph by C. D. Anderson of the first positron ever identified. A 6 mm lead plate separates the chamber. The deflection and direction of the particle's ion trail indicate that the particle is a positron.
Particle.composition: Elementary particle
Particle.statistics: Fermionic
Particle.generation: First
Particle.interaction: Gravity, electromagnetic, weak
Particle.antiparticle: Electron
Particle.theorized: Paul Dirac (1928)
Particle.discovered: Carl D. Anderson (1932)
Particle.symbol: ,
Particle.mass: me
Particle.mean_lifetime: stable (same as electron)
Particle.electric_charge: +1 e+
Particle.spin:  ħ (same as electron)
Particle.name: Positron (antielectron)
Particle.image: 200px

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Mass: 0.5109989461
Image: PositronDiscovery.jpg

Show 5 more facts

Monte Carlo Particle Number: -11
spin quantum number: 0.5
Commons category: Positrons
electric charge: 1
time of discovery or invention: 1932-00-00

Sources (4)

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~15 min read

Article

10 sections

Contents

History
Theory
Experimental clues and discovery
Natural production
Observation in cosmic rays
Artificial production
Applications
See also
References
External links

Positrons can be created by positron emission radioactive decay (through weak interactions), or by pair production from a sufficiently energetic photon which is interacting with an atom in a material.