Collision of Two Light Quanta (original) (raw)

Abstract

The recombination of free electrons and free positrons and its connection with the Compton effect have been treated by Dirac before the experimental discovery of the positron. In the present note are given analogous calculations for the production of positron electron pairs as a result of the collision of two light quanta. The angular distribution of the ejected pairs is calculated for different polarizations, and formulas are given for the angular distribution of photons due to recombination. The results are applied to the collision of high energy photons of cosmic radiation with the temperature radiation of interstellar space. The effect on the absorption of such quanta is found to be negligibly small.

• Received 23 October 1934

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.46.1087

©1934 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

G. Breit* and John A. Wheeler†

• Department of Physics, New York University
• *Now at Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin.
• †National Research Fellow now at Copenhagen.

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