Robert Mann - An Introduction to Particle Physics and the Standard Model · Problem 5.2

Accelerators — Robert Mann

Physics — Particle Physics · angular-momentum-addition-spin

Problem

A clever experimentalist figures out how to collide two Ω\Omega particles of opposite charge into a resonance (i.e., a short-lived bound state) called an omegaball. (a) What are the possible spins of an omegaball in its lowest-energy state? (b) The experimentalist then figures out how to make a supply of 10,000 omegaballs of lowest energy by repeatedly colliding Ω+\Omega^+ and Ω−\Omega^- together with opposite spins along the zz-axis. What must these spin components be if more highest-spin omegaballs are made than any other kind? Find approximately how many of each spin are made in the sample of 10,000. (c) How does your answer to (b) change if the highest-spin omegaballs are fewest in number in the sample?

Related theory

Browse the problem library