Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2017 / ia / Paper 4 / 9A / b / Solution

Let ${\mathbf{p}}_1$ and ${\mathbf{p}}_2$ be the incoming and proton momenta. The other incoming atom is at rest, so its total energy is $m_1{c}^2$. By four-momentum conservation, the tritium atom hasThe specified perpendicular emission gives ${\mathbf{p}}_1\cdot {\mathbf{p}}_2=0$. Therefore the relativistic energy-momentum relation impliesDividing by $c^4$ givesHere $E_1,E_2$ are total energies, not just kinetic energies. This identity is conditional on the collision admitting the stated emission: the calculated energies must satisfy the positive-energy mass-shell conditions, in particular $E_2\ge m_2{c}^2$ and $E_3\ge m_3{c}^2$. No nonrelativistic approximation has been used.