The minimum energy that a photon must have to undergo pair production is
A) 0.511 MeV.
B) 1.022 MeV.
C) 2.044 MeV.
D) 0.256 MeV.
E) any amount more than zero.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Pair production requires the creation of a particle and its antiparticle, which requires at least twice the rest mass energy of the particle. The electron has a rest mass energy of 0.511 MeV, so the minimum energy required to produce an electron and its antiparticle (a positron) is twice this energy, or 1.022 MeV. Therefore, option B is the correct answer.

The Minimum Energy That a Photon Must Have to Undergo