annihilatsioonifotoneiks

Annihilatsioonifotoneiks refers to the photons produced during the process of particle-antiparticle annihilation. When a particle meets its corresponding antiparticle, such as an electron meeting a positron, they annihilate each other, converting their mass into energy. This energy is typically released in the form of photons, which are packets of electromagnetic radiation.

The characteristics of these annihilation photons depend on the energy and type of the annihilating particles. For instance, the annihilation of an electron and a positron at low energies most commonly results in two photons traveling in opposite directions, each with an energy equivalent to the rest mass of the electron (or positron). This is a fundamental process observed in particle physics experiments and has practical applications, most notably in medical imaging techniques like Positron Emission Tomography (PET).

In PET scans, a radioactive isotope that decays by emitting positrons is introduced into the body. These positrons quickly annihilate with electrons in the surrounding tissues, producing pairs of annihilation photons. Detectors surrounding the patient register these photons, allowing for the reconstruction of a 3D image of the tracer's distribution, which can indicate metabolic activity or disease. The precise measurement of the energy and direction of these photons is crucial for accurate imaging.