Monday, 11 May 2020

particle physics - Why does positronium decay into 2 photons more often than into 3 photons?



I cannot find the answer to the above question. I know that para-positronium is created with a probability of 25% and decays into 2 photons, while ortho-positronium is created with a probability of 75% and decays into 3 photons. I also know that ortho-positronium has a way longer life time than para-positronium. This, in my understanding, should not affect the number of decays per time, but just means that the ortho-positronium will decay LATER into three photons. But in the end there should be 75% 3-photon-decays and 25% 2-photon-decays. But in reality 2-photon-decay happens about 300 times more often than 3-photon-decay. What information am I missing? Thank you!




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