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How are high-energy particle collisions studied with spectroscopic techniques?

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Learn about the use of gamma-ray spectroscopy to identify the quarry that was the source of granite found in ancient Roman ruins — spectroscopy See how gamma-ray spectroscopy is used to identify the quarry that was the source of granite found in ancient Roman ruins.

In the context of spectroscopy, the study of high-energy particle collisions involves measuring the interactions of particles as a function of their collision energy. While traditional spectroscopy often focuses on the interaction of photons with matter, the definition has expanded to include the study of interactions between particles such as electrons, protons, and ions.1

In particle physics, researchers use particle accelerators to collide particles at exceedingly high energies. By analyzing the total production of subatomic particles or the specific production of certain particles as a function of incident energy, scientists can unravel the internal structure of protons and neutrons and investigate the state of the early universe.1

Additionally, accelerator mass spectrometry utilizes high-energy accelerators to identify rare isotopes by accelerating ions to high energies and using specialized detector systems to measure their energy loss and total energy, allowing for unambiguous identification of particles amidst background interference.23