In positron-emission tomography (PET) used in medical research and diagnosis, co
ID: 1280189 • Letter: I
Question
In positron-emission tomography (PET) used in medical research and diagnosis, compounds containing unstable nuclei that emit positrons are introduced into the brain, destined for a site of interest in the brain. When a positron is emitted, it goes only a short distance before coming nearly to rest. It forms a bound state with an electron, called "positronium", which is rather similar to a hydrogen atom. The binding energy of positronium is very small compared to the rest energy of an electron. After a short time the positron and electron annihilate. In the annihilation, the positron and the electron disappear, and all of their rest energy goes into two photons (particles of light) which have zero mass; all their energy is kinetic energy. These high energy photons, called "gamma rays", are emitted at nearly 180
Explanation / Answer
The energy of simple gamma positron is given by
E = Ee + Ep / 2
As mass of electron and positron are equal
Egamma = 2 E / 2 = E
= m c2 = 9.1 * 10-31 * (3 * 108)2
= 81.9 * 10-15 J
E = 81.9 * 10-15 J [6.2 * 1018 eV / 1J]
= 0.507 MeV