annihilation radiation

In physics, annihilation radiation occurs when a particle and its antiparticle collide and cease to exist, releasing energy. The most common example is the interaction between an electron and a positron, which results in the emission of two or three gamma rays. This process confirms the principle of mass-energy equivalence, as described by Einstein's famous equation, (E = mc^2). The energy released is equal to the mass that disappears multiplied by the speed of light squared. At higher energies, annihilation can create heavier particles and antiparticles. Annihilation radiation specifically refers to the quanta produced, traveling in opposite directions with a wavelength corresponding to very short gamma rays.12