ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Breit–Wheeler process

The breit-wheeler process is when two particles, one electron and one positron, are created out of pure energy. Remember in school when you learned about atoms having energy levels and that energy can be released or absorbed when electrons move between these levels? Well, in this process, the energy is so high that it creates particles instead of just releasing energy. It's like when you squash a ball of play dough so hard that it turns into two smaller balls.

The process happens when two particles of light, called photons, collide with each other. The photons have a lot of energy, and when they collide, they can create an electron and a positron. When an electron and a positron come together, they can create another photon. So the breit-wheeler process is like a game of ping-pong: two photons collide, and they create an electron and a positron. Then the electron and positron come together and create another photon.

Scientists study this process because it gives them clues about the nature of the universe and the basic building blocks of matter. It's like solving a big puzzle - each piece helps us understand a little bit more.