Can a Positron be Turned into an Electron?

[Rhondazvous]

Is it possible to change a positron into an electron? If so, how is it done? If not, would a true scientist cringe when a fantasy fiction author makes that happen?

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Yes, it can be done.  But it's a pretty controversial procedure, as the positron has to go to a special camp and be prayed over by electrons who have received divine revelation that positronality is immoral.

Boru

[vorlon13]

If you accelerated it enough and smacked it into another particle, the energy released would manifest as more particles including possibly an electron.

However, if you add up the electric charges of all the residue, you will still be accountable for a single +1 charge somewhere.

[Rhondazvous]

Wouldn’t want Alex to miss this one.

[drfuzzy]

Well, kind of.  I watched "Particle Fever" the other night, and was utterly fascinated.  But my poor little brain . . . I have not had any science class beyond basic Physics in high school way back in the dark ages.  So I'm hunting for layperson's explanations of this stuff (Brian Greene has put out some pretty accessible articles) and just lurking, trying to keep up.  Thanks for the threads, Rhonda!

[Alex K]

The truth is it depends. In the Standard Model without neutrino masses it seems impossible because of a thing called lepton number conservation, but if neutrinos are their own antiparticles, it is possible (but would be extremely rare) that an electron turns into a positron by catching two W+ bosons in a row: the first W+ would turn the electron into a neutrino (this is standard physics), the neutrino being the same as an antineutrino (if they are their own anti-particle which is unknown), and then the antineutrino turning into a positron by catching another W+ boson, which is again standard physics.

The reverse process can then happen if a positron catches two W- bosons. The W bosons might come from atoms in the vicinity and change one type of nucleus into another in the course of this exchange, but as I said this would be an incredibly rare occurrence.

A closely related physical process called "neutrinoless double beta decay" is actually currently being searched for, precisely in order to prove that neutrinos indeed are their own antiparticles.

As vorlon says, you can always *make* positrons by smashing an electron into something with enough energy or vice versa, but I didn't exactly count that as changing the electron into a positron, which I interpret as having an identifiable particle which gets turned from one in the other by some influence.

[Rhondazvous]

What a friend we have in Alex
All the facts laid bare
What a privilege to carry
All our questions to him
And Vorlon, too!

[Rhondazvous]

Well, kind of.  I watched "Particle Fever" the other night, and was utterly fascinated.  But my poor little brain . . . I have not had any science class beyond basic Physics in high school way back in the dark ages.  So I'm hunting for layperson's explanations of this stuff (Brian Greene has put out some pretty accessible articles) and just lurking, trying to keep up.  Thanks for the threads, Rhonda!

I’m glad you’re enjoying this, Boru. Liked your post above about the immoral positrons.

As you may, or may not, know, I’m writing a fantasy novel where all these particles are real living beings interacting with each other. Alex has really been helping me create a plot that is both accessible to layreaders while at the same time won’t make professionals like himself shake their heads and groan.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

I’m glad you’re enjoying this, Boru.

I am, but I enjoy almost everything. It's my nature.

Liked your post above about the immoral positrons.

Thank you.

As you may, or may not, know, I’m writing a fantasy novel where all these particles are real living beings interacting with each other. Alex has really been helping me create a plot that is both accessible to layreaders while at the same time won’t make professionals like himself shake their heads and groan.

I didn't know, but best of luck with it. I hope it makes best seller lists the world over, and Disney options the film rights. I'd like to suggest Johnny Depp for the role of Evil Lepton Overlord.

Boru

[Rhondazvous]

I am, but I enjoy almost everything. It's my nature.

So I noticed!

I didn't know, but best of luck with it. I hope it makes best seller lists the world over, and Disney options the film rights. I'd like to suggest Johnny Depp for the role of Evil Lepton Overlord.

Boru

Ah! My villain’s name is exquisitely evil. But if I tell you, I’ll have to kill you.