Q8CQ The decay of one type of \({\rm{... [FREE SOLUTION]

Chapter 34: Q8CQ (page 1237)

The decay of one type of \({\rm{K}}\)-meson is cited as evidence that nature favours matter over antimatter. Since mesons are composed of a quark and an antiquark, is it surprising that they would preferentially decay to one type over another? Is this an asymmetry in nature? Is the predominance of matter over antimatter an asymmetry?

Short Answer

Expert verified

We would expect the kaon to decay into both types with equal probability, so this observation demonstrates an asymmetry in nature and contributes to efforts to explain the large asymmetry of matter's dominance over antimatter in the universe.

Step by step solution

Definition of mesons.

Generally, the matter is made up of matter but every matter contains constituent antimatter particle. The decay of one K-mesons preferentially creates matter over antimatter.

Step 2: Finding whether mesons decay into one type over another?

Matter and antimatter should be equivalent pairs of opposing quantum numbers, just as a positive charge is neither better nor worse than a negative charge. This is why we expect a K-meson, especially a long-lived neutral kaon composed symmetrically of a quark-antiquark, to decay with equal probability into a "matter heavy" path and a "antimatter heavy" path. This was not noticed. With a higher probability, the -meson decays into the "matter heavy" path.

This was the first indication of a violation of CP symmetry. Because CP symmetry states that the physics should be the same in both C-symmetry (particle-antiparticle interchange) and P-symmetry (parity change, coordinate inversion) at the same time, its violation is important in attempts to explain the predominance.