This phenomenon classically occurs when a photon passing near an atomic nucleus has energy equivalent to twice the rest mass of an electron.
The occurrence of this phenomenon explains the direct correlation between absorption coefficient and frequency at high frequencies. This phenomenon can occur in gravitational fields with acceleration greater than two times the speed of light squared over the Compton wavelength, and that instance of this phenomenon explains the nonexistence of micro black holes. Patrick Blackett first proposed this phenomenon while observing cosmic ray showers in a cloud chamber, and in order for this process to occur, a certain particle must possess energy greater than 1.022 MeV. The spontaneous occurrence of this phenomenon near the event horizon of a black hole results in the black hole losing energy through the process of Hawking Radiation. This phenomenon classically occurs when a photon passing near an atomic nucleus has energy equivalent to twice the rest mass of an electron. For 10 points, name this phenomenon in which the photon splits into an electron and a positron.
The occurrence of this phenomenon explains the direct correlation between absorption coefficient and frequency at high frequencies.
pair production