Fundamentals of Physics Extended (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1-11823-072-8
ISBN 13: 978-1-11823-072-5

Chapter 44 - Quarks, Leptons, and the Big Bang - Problems - Page 1364: 17c

Answer

The proposed decay process does not conserve spin angular momentum.

Work Step by Step

The $\Xi^-$ has spin $\frac{1}{2}$ The $\pi^-$ has spin $0$ The neutron $n$ has spin $\frac{1}{2}$ The $K^-$ has spin $0$ The proton $p$ has spin $\frac{1}{2}$ The left side of the proposed decay process can have net spin angular momentum $\pm \frac{1}{2}$ while the right side of the proposed decay process can have net spin angular momentum $0$ or $\pm 1$ Therefore, the proposed decay process does not conserve spin angular momentum.
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