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In pair production how do we know the energy of the photon is transformed into the mass of the two particles? How do we know it’s not something else similar to the photoelectric effect, where the energy of the photon interacts with the atom knocking parts off? To be clear I am not disagreeing with experiment or saying there are no pair productions. I want to know how we know for sure the exact way these pairs are produced.

Bill Alsept
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    We know that when matter and antimatter come into contact, they annihilate to produce photons. Since the laws governing this interaction are time reversal symmetric, we can run this interaction backwards, and we'll get photons of high enough energy producing matter and antimatter. I didn't really understand the second part of your question, though. What relations are you making between electrons in an atom being excited and pair production? – Shantanu Mar 12 '21 at 03:51
  • I think you mean "photoelectric effect" and not "electromagnetic effect". and "knocking off parts" you mean "electrons being ejected". – joseph h Mar 12 '21 at 03:55
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    We know it’s what QED says it is because every experiment we do is consistent with QED’s predictions. It is the most highly verified theory in the history of physics. – G. Smith Mar 12 '21 at 04:05
  • @josephh Yes, thanks Joseph the photoelectric effect what I meant. – Bill Alsept Mar 12 '21 at 04:18
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    @G.Smith I’m not disagreeing with experiment. I’m not saying there are no pair productions. The question is asking something different. It’s a reasonable question that doesn’t need to be down voted. I really am interested. – Bill Alsept Mar 12 '21 at 04:22
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    I didn’t downvote, nor have I voted to close. – G. Smith Mar 12 '21 at 04:35
  • why don;t you read https://aapt.scitation.org/doi/10.1119/1.2174030 . the wikipedia article has the math, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pair_production#Photon_to_electron_and_positron . " I want to know how we know for sure the exact way these pairs are produced." Because when a positron annihilates on an electron gamma rays of very specific energy are produced and that led to the theory seen in the wiki., – anna v Mar 12 '21 at 05:59

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