Exploring the Mechanics of Photon-Photon Scattering in Particle Collisions

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In summary, particles scatter in particle-particle collisions due to the exchange of bosons, while photons do not scatter in photon-photon collisions due to the exchange of electrons. This is because the Feynman diagram for particle-particle scattering has four vertices, while the diagram for photon-photon scattering only has two. The probability of scattering in photon-photon collisions is very small due to the small number of vertices. Further information on this topic can be found in the provided link.
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CassiopeiaA
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Why do particles scatter in particle-particle collision while photons don't in photon-photon collisions, assuming that photons don't have enough energy to create particle anti-particle pairs?
 
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What force would do the scattering ?
 
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ie.. they have no mass
 
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CassiopeiaA said:
Why do particles scatter in particle-particle collision while photons don't in photon-photon collisions,

Photons can in fact scatter off each other "indirectly", via intermediate virtual electron-positron pairs. See e.g. page 4 (problem 3) of this document:

http://faculty.ucmerced.edu/dkiley/Physics161Fall2011HW2solns.pdf

The cross-section (i.e. the probability) is very small because the Feynman diagram has four vertices as opposed to only two in electron-electron scattering.
 
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I have very little knowledge of QED, but can you tell me what dictates exchange of bosons (particle-particle interaction) or electrons (in case of photon-photon interaction) in scattering processes? It will be helpful if you provide some links to further illustrate the point.
 

Related to Exploring the Mechanics of Photon-Photon Scattering in Particle Collisions

What is photon-photon scattering?

Photon-photon scattering is a process in which two photons interact with each other, resulting in the creation of new particles. This phenomenon is predicted by quantum field theory and has been observed in high-energy particle collisions.

How does photon-photon scattering occur?

Photon-photon scattering can occur when two photons come close enough to each other that they can interact through the electromagnetic force. This interaction leads to the creation of an electron-positron pair or other particles depending on the energy of the photons.

What is the significance of photon-photon scattering in physics?

Photon-photon scattering is significant because it provides insights into the fundamental interactions of particles and the nature of the universe. It also has important applications in understanding high-energy processes, such as those that occur in particle accelerators.

Can photon-photon scattering be observed in everyday life?

No, photon-photon scattering is a rare phenomenon that requires extremely high-energy photons to occur. These conditions are not present in everyday life, so photon-photon scattering is not observable in our daily experiences.

What are some current research areas related to photon-photon scattering?

Some current research areas related to photon-photon scattering include studying the properties of the Higgs boson and searching for new particles in high-energy experiments. Scientists are also investigating the potential of using photon-photon scattering as a tool for understanding dark matter and the early universe.

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