Date of Award
12-1977
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Physics
Supervisor
Professor P. G. Sutherland
Abstract
We present theoretical calculations of the annihilation rates for one and two photon decay of ground state positronium in a strong magnetic field, of order (10¹²-10¹³) Gauss such as assumed for neutron star surfaces. The calculation indicate that the one photon process at field of 10¹³ Gauss is of order (10ˉ⁴) compared to the two photon process. Consequently, a one photon annihilation line at 1.022 MeV is not expected in the spectra of neutron stars. The two photon rate is of order (5x10¹³ secˉ¹) at 10¹³ G; the half width is 43 keV. Thus, at such fields, the two photon line is fairly narrow and not smeared out through the magnetic field effects.
Recommended Citation
Carr, Simon Alexander, "One and Two Photon Annihilation Processes in a Strong Magnetic Field" (1977). Open Access Dissertations and Theses. Paper 375.
http://digitalcommons.mcmaster.ca/opendissertations/375