Why photon with no charge produces force on charges?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the nature of photons, particularly addressing why photons, which are produced by charged particles like protons and electrons, do not carry charge themselves. Participants explore the implications of this characteristic in the context of electromagnetic interactions and the emission of photons.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question the relationship between charged particles and the neutral nature of photons, noting that photons are produced during interactions involving charged particles.
  • There is a discussion about the charge of protons and electrons, with inquiries into their total charge and whether certain reactions involving them are allowed.
  • One participant suggests that a photon, as a boson, transfers charge but does not possess charge itself, while another clarifies that bosons can have charge, citing examples like W bosons.
  • It is mentioned that photons mediate the electromagnetic force and can be emitted by charged particles under certain conditions, such as energy transitions or interactions with matter.
  • Some participants express confusion about the implications of photon emission, particularly regarding the charge of the electron and the neutrality of the photon.
  • Questions arise about how photons interact with charged particles if they themselves carry no charge, leading to further inquiries about the nature of electric and magnetic components associated with photons.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature of photons and their relationship with charge. While there is some agreement on the neutral nature of photons, the implications of this neutrality in interactions with charged particles remain contested.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved questions regarding the specifics of photon emission and the conditions under which charged particles interact with photons. The discussion reflects varying interpretations of particle physics concepts without reaching a consensus.

wudingbin
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why photon has no charge though it is produced by either proton and electron, which are both charged??
 
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What is the charge of a proton?
What is the charge of an electron?
What is their total charge?

By the way, is this reaction ([itex]p^+ + e^- \to \cdots \gamma[/itex]) even allowed?
 
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Either ... and ... does not make sense.

Do you mean photon emission by the transition of an atomic electron?
 
As far as I understand particle physics, a photon is a bosun. As such, it transfers a charge from one place to another, but doesn't have one of its own.
 
Danger said:
As far as I understand particle physics, a photon is a bosun. As such, it transfers a charge from one place to another, but doesn't have one of its own.

No, Bosons can have charge, e.g. W+/-.

Bosons are just integer spin particles, they can be massive, massless, charged neutral ...

The photon is a massless boson which couples to electric charge and as such mediates the electromagnetic force.

A photon can be produced by a charged particle if it is energetically favourable, that is if the particle has sufficient energy to emit a real photon, or if a photon can be emitted and absorbed within the time permitted by the uncertainty principle (a virtual photon).

So an electron can emit a photon, for example when traversing matter at high energy and being decelerated by the electric fields of the atoms of the medium, or when changing energy level in an atom, or in annihilation with it's antiparticle etc etc.

It doesn't loose its charge (except in annihilation where all charge is destroyed).
 
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Okay, I knew that a photon can be emitted by an electron reverting to ground state, but I didn't realize that it could take the negative charge with it when it left.
 
Danger said:
Okay, I knew that a photon can be emitted by an electron reverting to ground state, but I didn't realize that it could take the negative charge with it when it left.

No, I didn't say that, at least I didn't mean to. A photon is always neutral, it couples to electric charge i.e. it can only interact with charged particles but it itself is never charged. Never

The electron retains its charge throughout, the photon only gains energy
 
how to interact with charged particles, if photon contain no charge?
as we all know photon have electric and magnetic components.
so, where to the charge in the electric component go to?
 

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