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Relativistic momentum in pion and muon

Physics Asked by Physics21 on May 26, 2021

So this is from Griffiths particle physics book about pion decaying into neutrino and muon.

The part I have problem with is that it states “` begin{equation}
p_{pi}^2=m_{pi}^2c^2 , p_{mu}^2=m_{mu}^2c^2
end{equation}

as a true statement for the reaction. I am not sure if p means energy-momentum four vector or just momentum. But in any case I do not know how this is true?

4 Answers

Using natural units $c=1$ what that relation implies is that the particles are on-shell. Whenever a particle is on-shell you have that, given the particle 4-momentum $p_mu$, $$p_mu p^mu equiv p^2 = m^2$$ where $m$ is the particle's mass.

If you put back the velocity of light, you'll get $$p_mu p^mu equiv p^2 = m^2c^4$$

Answered by Davide Morgante on May 26, 2021

An on-shell particle of mass $m$ and velocity ${bf v}$ has a four-velocity $u_mu = gamma(c,{bf v})$, with $gamma=(1-{bf v}^2/c^2)^{-1/2}$. Its relativistic momentum $p_mu$ is then given by the expression $p_mu = mu_mu$. The Lorentz invariant magnitude of $p_mu$ can then be calculated to be $$ p^2 equiv eta^{munu} p_mu p_nu = (p_0)^2 - (p_1)^2 - (p_2)^2 - (p_3)^2 = m^2c^2, $$ assuming the mostly-negative convention $eta^{munu}={rm diag}(1,-1,-1,-1)$.

Answered by haelewiin on May 26, 2021

$p^2$ means $p^mu p_mu=p_0^2-p_x^2-p_y^2-p_z^2$.

Answered by xyzrggong on May 26, 2021

Usually, one denotes $p$ for the 4-vector, $vec{p}$ for the 3-vector and $p_i$ or $p^mu$ for the components.

So this is just the basic $p^2 = (mc)^2 = frac{E^2}{c^2}-vec{p}^2$ relation that one gets from $p^mu = (frac{E}{c}, vec{p})$ and basically defines mass.

Answered by jonas on May 26, 2021

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