Does photon self energy contribute to the speed of light?

In summary, the conversation discusses the potential consequences of switching off or neglecting the loops of electrons in a light propagator. It is noted that due to the Ward identity, quantum effects cannot generate mass for photons, except in the Higgs mechanism which occurs in superconductors. If the loops of electrons were switched off, it would also mean turning off the photon-matter interaction, making it impossible to generate or detect such photons. Therefore, discussing the speed of these hypothetical photons does not make sense.
  • #1
Heidi
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TL;DR Summary
Role of the self energy
Hi Pf

I read that in the light propagator there are loops of electrons. What would be the consequences if
we could switch them off (or neglect them)? would it modify the speed of the photons?
 
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  • #2
Since photons are described by a massless gauge field there's a Ward identity ensuring that quantum effects cannot generate a mass for photons. So photons stay massless.

The only exception is the Higgs mechanism. In the context of the photons it occurs in superconductors, where due to the formation of Cooper pairs of electrons a Higgs mechanism occurs for the corresponding in-medium QED. I.e., the photonic quasi-particles within a superconductor are massive.
 
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  • #3
Heidi said:
What would be the consequences if we could switch them off

That could only be done consistently by turning off the photon-matter interaction, so such photons could neither be generated nor detected. It does not make sense to talk about the speed of such things.
 
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1. How does photon self energy affect the speed of light?

The concept of photon self energy refers to the energy that a photon carries with it as it travels through space. This energy does not directly contribute to the speed of light, but rather affects the behavior of the photon itself. It does not change the speed of light, which is a fundamental constant in our universe.

2. Is the speed of light affected by the energy of individual photons?

No, the speed of light is not affected by the energy of individual photons. The speed of light is a constant value in a vacuum, and it does not change regardless of the energy or frequency of the photons that make up the light.

3. Can photon self energy be measured or observed?

Photon self energy cannot be directly measured or observed. It is a theoretical concept that helps us understand the behavior of photons, but it cannot be directly detected or measured in experiments.

4. Does the concept of photon self energy have any practical applications?

The concept of photon self energy has practical applications in fields such as quantum mechanics and particle physics. It helps us understand the behavior of particles at the quantum level and is essential for developing theories and models in these fields.

5. How does the concept of photon self energy relate to the speed of light in a medium?

The speed of light in a medium is affected by the properties of that medium, such as its density and refractive index. The concept of photon self energy does not directly affect the speed of light in a medium, but it does play a role in understanding the behavior of light in different materials.

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