Exploring the Gravitational Field of Photons: Evidence and Experiments

[Zman]

Because of the mass equivalence of energy, photons are said to have a gravitational field just like matter.

Have there been any experiments to verify that photons have a gravitational field?

 

[jtbell]

A similar question is currently being discussed in the following thread:

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=337857

 

[astrokreng]

Yes, there have been several experiments that provide evidence for the gravitational field of photons. One of the most famous is the Pound-Rebka experiment, which measured the gravitational redshift of photons as they traveled between two points in a gravitational field. This experiment confirmed the prediction of general relativity that photons would experience a gravitational pull just like matter.

Other experiments, such as the Shapiro delay and the deflection of light by massive objects, also support the idea that photons have a gravitational field. Additionally, the observation of gravitational lensing, where the path of light is bent by the gravitational field of a massive object, is further evidence for the gravitational effects of photons.

Furthermore, theoretical models and calculations based on general relativity and quantum field theory also support the idea that photons have a gravitational field. The concept of mass-energy equivalence, as described by Einstein's famous equation E=mc^2, also supports the idea that photons, which have energy but no rest mass, can still interact with gravity.

Overall, while there is still ongoing research and debate in the scientific community about the exact nature of the gravitational field of photons, the evidence from experiments and theoretical models strongly supports the idea that photons do indeed have a gravitational field, just like matter.