Positron-electron Annihilation

Most recent answer: 03/21/2020

Q:
Does the positron emitted from beta plus decay annihilate electrons from atoms close by? If not what happens to the positron after it has been emitted?
- Aditya (age 14)
India
A:

Yes. In the medical imaging method PET (positron emission tomography) the positron annihilates with a nearby electron so what's emitted and detected are actually the gamma rays from the annihilation.

Mike W.


(published on 03/21/2020)