annihilation reaction

An annihilation reaction occurs when a particle meets its antiparticle, leading to their mutual destruction. This process typically involves a particle, such as an electron, colliding with its counterpart, the positron (its antiparticle). When they collide, they annihilate each other, converting their mass into energy, often in the form of gamma rays. This transformation aligns with Einstein's famous equation, E=mc², which illustrates how mass can be converted into energy. Annihilation reactions are fundamental in particle physics and have applications in technologies like PET scans in medical imaging.