- #1
johne1618
- 371
- 0
Imagine that two electrons interact by exchanging a virtual photon.
Electron A gains momentum ##-\vec{p}## and electron B gains momentum ##\vec{p}##.
If the two momentum vectors are not collinear then there will be extra angular momentum left over from the interaction.
In a simple Coulomb interaction the momenta of A and B are collinear but I would have thought that in a general interaction they would not be. In that case how would angular momentum be conserved?
PS As the photon is virtual there isn't anything left in the EM field.
Electron A gains momentum ##-\vec{p}## and electron B gains momentum ##\vec{p}##.
If the two momentum vectors are not collinear then there will be extra angular momentum left over from the interaction.
In a simple Coulomb interaction the momenta of A and B are collinear but I would have thought that in a general interaction they would not be. In that case how would angular momentum be conserved?
PS As the photon is virtual there isn't anything left in the EM field.