Can Photons Replace Electrons in Electric Currents?

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SUMMARY

The discussion clarifies that photons cannot replace electrons in electric currents due to their inability to carry charge. While photons serve as the force carriers of electromagnetic interactions, they do not produce a current. However, they can be utilized for wireless power transmission and information transfer, achieving similar outcomes to traditional electric currents. The consensus is that while photons can perform many functions associated with electric currents, they cannot generate a current themselves.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electromagnetic force and its carriers
  • Knowledge of electric current and charge carriers
  • Familiarity with wireless power transmission techniques
  • Basic concepts of photonics and fields in physics
NEXT STEPS
  • Research wireless power transmission technologies
  • Explore the role of photons in information transfer
  • Study the principles of electromagnetic fields
  • Investigate the limitations of current carriers in electrical systems
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, electrical engineers, and anyone interested in the fundamental principles of electricity and alternative power transmission methods.

lufc88
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The photon is the force carrier of the electromagnetic force, I'm not talking about photonics but hasn't the effect of every electric current dc or ac ever been due to photons acting only? In theory couldn't we have an electron-less current due to only photons but still with the same effects?
 
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No, because photons do not carry charge. They mediate force, but you still need something to carry the actual current.
 
As f95toli said a photon cannot produce a current, but photons can do a lot of what we want to use current for. For example, you can use them to transmit power wirelessly as well as transmitting information. Those are the two main uses of currents in electronic circuits.

So, no, you cannot ever make a current out of photons, but yes you can do many of the same things that you usually want to do with currents by using photons instead.

Btw, there is usually no need to actually think about photons in this context, just fields.
 

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