How come there is a particle with zero mass?

In summary, there are particles, such as photons, that have no mass or charge but are still considered real. These particles have energy and momentum and interact with other particles, such as electrons. While they may not fit our everyday understanding of particles, they can be described mathematically and are an important part of the standard model.
  • #1
VodaVoda
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0
How come there is a particle with zero mass??

My question is probably very lame, please excuse me

how come there is some particle that has no mass and no charge? (like photons) does such a particle really exist? or they are just "virtual" particles thought for better understading of some phenomenons?
 
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  • #2


They aren't really particles in everyday terms - a photon is a lump of electro-magnetic fields.
 
  • #3


VodaVoda said:
My question is probably very lame, please excuse me

how come there is some particle that has no mass and no charge? (like photons) does such a particle really exist? or they are just "virtual" particles thought for better understading of some phenomenons?

A photon does not have any mass and charge, indeed, but it is real.

A photon has energy and momentum to transfer/obtain, so it can interact. If you remember that a photon is an electromagnetic wave that appears in the electron equations of motion, you will have a clear picture of photon-electron interaction. This interaction is rather strong, so it cannot be neglected without getting in trouble (infrared catastrophe).

Bob.
 
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  • #4


mgb_phys said:
They aren't really particles in everyday terms - a photon is a lump of electro-magnetic fields.
If a photon isn't a particle in everyday terms, then neither is an electron, or any of the other particles of the standard model. Particles are quantum systems with Hilbert spaces that are the representation spaces of irreducible projective representations of the Poincaré group (or representations of its covering group). Massless particles can exist because there are massless representations. Electrons can exist because there are massive spin 1/2 representations.

To the OP: I don't think there's any way to explain this in less mathematical language.

Actually, what I wrote is an oversimplification. That stuff only defines the mathematical description of non-interacting particles. There seems to be no end to how much you have to learn to really understand interacting particles.
 
  • #5


photons are definitely real; if you're having trouble thinking of them as particles try thinking of them as packets of energy proportional to their wavelength which transmit the electromagnetic force
 

FAQ: How come there is a particle with zero mass?

What does it mean for a particle to have zero mass?

A particle with zero mass means that it has no physical substance or weight. It does not contribute to the overall mass or weight of an object it is a part of.

How can a particle exist without having any mass?

According to the Standard Model of particle physics, particles with zero mass, such as photons, are considered to be massless because they do not interact with the Higgs field, the field that gives particles their mass.

Is a particle with zero mass different from a particle with a very small mass?

Yes, there is a fundamental difference between a particle with zero mass and a particle with a very small mass. A particle with a very small mass still interacts with the Higgs field, whereas a particle with zero mass does not.

Why do some particles have zero mass while others have mass?

The mass of a particle is determined by its interactions with the Higgs field. Particles that interact more strongly with the Higgs field have a larger mass, while those that do not interact at all have zero mass.

Are there any practical applications for particles with zero mass?

Yes, particles with zero mass, such as photons, play a crucial role in many technologies, including telecommunications, solar panels, and medical imaging. They also allow for the existence of fundamental forces, such as electromagnetism, which govern our everyday lives.

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