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When a particle with mass m collides with a fixed target with the same mass, are the followings true?

  1. $p_{total}^{2}=\frac{\left( E_{1}+E_{2} \right)^{2}}{c^{2}} = (2m)^{2}c^{2}$ (If so, that means $E_{1}$ and $E_{2}$ vary between reference frames, but the $p_{total}^{2}=4m^{2}c^{2}$ always hold. )

  2. The $p_{total}^{2}$ is conserved after the collision. (Is the $p_{total}^{2}$ not only invariant, but also conserved?)

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  • $\begingroup$ 1.)The first equality is wrong if $p_{total}$ is your 4-vector. 2. How are you defining conservation? Conservation always involves a continuity equation. Momentum is always conserved; in closed systems that makes total system momentum constant. Energy is always conserved; in closed systems that makes total energy constant. $\endgroup$
    – Bill N
    Commented Mar 28, 2018 at 15:23
  • $\begingroup$ @BillN ... does (2) mean 'yes'? $\endgroup$
    – Nownuri
    Commented Mar 30, 2018 at 11:25

1 Answer 1

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In Minkowski the square of the four-momentum $P^\mu$ is
$P^2 = \eta_{\mu \nu} P^\mu P^\nu = P^\mu P_\mu = -E^2/c^2 +p^2 = -m^2 c^2$
where:
$\mu = 0, 1, 2, 3$
$\eta_{\mu \nu} = diag(-1, 1, 1, 1)$ metric tensor
$p^i$ relativistic three-momentum
$p^2 = p^i p_i$
$i = 1, 2, 3$
The square of the four-momentum is an invariant, while the total four-momentum of a physical system is a conserved quantity in a specific reference frame.
Note: Point 1. in the question is not applicable to a generic reference frame, as it neglects the three-momentum.

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