How Do Virtual Photons Mediate Forces in Quantum Electrodynamics?

In summary, the concept of photons attracting positively and negatively charged particles can be misleading when visualizing it through Feynman diagrams. Virtual photons, which can have different qualities than regular photons, play a role in this phenomenon. Additionally, while virtual photons may not actually exist, they are useful in calculations. A paper discusses the quantum theory of electromagnetism and how it explains both attractive and repulsive forces.
  • #1
KarminValso1724
25
1
Like, for example, how do photons attract positively and negatively charged particles. I need some help visualizing it.
 
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  • #2
This is one of those cases where feynman diagrams give a misleading picture.
It's easy to imagine an exchange of a photon generating a repulsive force due to conservation of momentum, but virtual photons are different than regular photons. They can have qualities we don't associate with regular photons, which muddies up the issue.

Also, virtual photons might not actually exist, but they do make a useful device in calculations. By their very nature, all detected photons cannot be virtual photons.

Here's a neat paper talking about how attractive and repulsive forces can be generated in the quantum theory of electromagnetism.
http://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.023601
 

FAQ: How Do Virtual Photons Mediate Forces in Quantum Electrodynamics?

How do bosons carry forces?

Bosons are subatomic particles that are responsible for carrying forces between other particles, such as protons and electrons. They do this by exchanging energy and momentum with these other particles. This exchange is what creates the force between the particles.

What types of forces can bosons carry?

There are four fundamental forces in the universe: gravity, electromagnetism, the strong nuclear force, and the weak nuclear force. Bosons can carry all of these forces between particles. For example, photons are the bosons that carry the electromagnetic force between charged particles.

How do different types of bosons carry different forces?

Bosons can carry different forces based on their properties, such as mass, spin, and charge. For example, the gluon, which is a type of boson, carries the strong nuclear force because it has a strong charge and spin. On the other hand, the photon, which also carries electromagnetic force, has no charge and a spin of 1.

Can bosons carry more than one force?

Yes, bosons can carry more than one force. For example, the W and Z bosons carry both the weak nuclear force and the electromagnetic force. This is because they have a certain mass and charge that allows them to interact with both types of particles.

How do bosons exchange energy and momentum to carry forces?

Bosons exchange energy and momentum through the exchange of virtual particles. These virtual particles are constantly being created and destroyed, but they play a crucial role in the interaction between particles and the carrying of forces. This exchange of virtual particles is what allows for the transfer of energy and momentum between particles.

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