The allowed radii and energies of positronium

In summary, the allowed radii and energies of the positron/electron system can be calculated using the equations r = \frac{{4{n^2}\pi {\varepsilon _0}{\hbar ^2}}}{{\mu {e^2}}} and {E_n} = - \frac{{\mu {e^4}}}{{2{n^2}{{(4\pi {\varepsilon _0})}^2}{\hbar ^2}}}. Using the reduced mass, the calculated values for the allowed radii and energies are {r_n} = {n^2}(1.05835 \times {10^{ - 10}} m) and {E_n} = \
  • #1
squelch
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Homework Statement



Positronium is a hydrogen-like atom consisting of a proton and an electron revolving around each other. Find the allowed radii and energies of the system.

Homework Equations



See solution attempt.

The Attempt at a Solution



The allowed radii of the positron/electron system are given by [itex]r = \frac{{4{n^2}\pi {\varepsilon _0}{\hbar ^2}}}{{\mu {e^2}}}[/itex] where [itex]\mu = \frac{{{m_{positron}}{m_e}}}{{{m_{positron}} + {m_e}}}[/itex] and n={1,2,3,...}

The allowed energies of the positron/electron system are given by [itex]{E_n} = - \frac{{\mu {e^4}}}{{2{n^2}{{(4\pi {\varepsilon _0})}^2}{\hbar ^2}}}[/itex]

It just seemed suspiciously simple. Is this all they're really asking me to state? I mean, other than calculating it all out and leaving it as a function of n times a constant.
 
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  • #2
Just in case that was what I needed to do, I calculated the following allowable radii and energies, using the reduced mass:

[tex]\begin{array}{l}
{r_n} = {n^2}(1.05835 \times {10^{ - 10}} m)\\
{E_n} = \frac{1}{{{n^2}}}( - 6.8032eV)
\end{array}[/tex]
 

Related to The allowed radii and energies of positronium

1. What is positronium?

Positronium is a unique atom-like particle consisting of an electron and its antimatter counterpart, the positron. It is considered a bound state of the two particles and is short-lived, lasting only a few nanoseconds before annihilating into gamma rays.

2. How are the allowed radii and energies of positronium determined?

The allowed radii and energies of positronium are determined through quantum mechanical calculations. These calculations take into account the mass and charge of the particles, as well as their interaction through the electromagnetic force.

3. What is the energy level structure of positronium?

The energy level structure of positronium is similar to that of a hydrogen atom, with discrete energy levels labeled by the principal quantum number, n. However, due to the presence of two identical particles, positronium also has an additional property called spin, which leads to the splitting of energy levels.

4. Are the allowed radii and energies of positronium the same as those of a hydrogen atom?

No, the allowed radii and energies of positronium are not the same as those of a hydrogen atom. This is due to the difference in the mass and charge of the particles, as well as the presence of the spin property in positronium.

5. What applications do the allowed radii and energies of positronium have?

The allowed radii and energies of positronium have implications in various fields, such as atomic and molecular physics, quantum electrodynamics, and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Understanding positronium can also provide insights into the nature of matter and antimatter interactions.

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