Positron-electron annihilation

Case contributed by Craig Hacking
Diagnosis not applicable
Diagram

Gamma particle (γ) production as an annihilation event between a positron (β+) and electron (e-).

Case Discussion

Fundamental to PET imaging, followning beta decay of a unstable radionuclide, the positron (β+) may collide with an electron (e-), thereby annihilating and producing two gamma particles (γ) which move away from each other in completely opposing directions and with energies of 511 keV.

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