Effects of photons having a finite mass

In summary, the college professor explained that if a photon has a finite mass, the Coulomb potential between stationary charges would be zero beyond a certain distance. However, this is not entirely accurate as a massive exchange particle would result in a Yukawa potential, which decreases exponentially but never reaches zero. This type of potential is also present in the strong interaction and can potentially arise in the electromagnetic interaction with the presence of shield particles.
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Saptarshi Sarkar
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TL;DR Summary
Effect on Coulomb potential due to finite mass of photons
Few days back, our college professor told us that if a photon were to have a finite mass, then the Coulomb potential between two stationary charges separated by a distance r would be strictly zero beyond some distance.

He told us that it was due to the reason that photon is the elementary particle which is the reason behind Coulomb force. I didn't understand what he really meant as we haven't yet had the course on particle physics. Can anyone please explain it or refer to something that I can read?
 
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  • #2
Saptarshi Sarkar said:
then the Coulomb potential between two stationary charges separated by a distance r would be strictly zero beyond some distance.
That is not true. With a massive exchange particle you get a Yukawa potential. For large distances it is decreasing (approximately) exponentially, it quickly gets irrelevant, but never zero. The strong interaction has such a potential, and it can also arise in some cases from the electromagnetic interaction if additional particles shield a point charge.
 
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What is the concept of photons having a finite mass?

The concept of photons having a finite mass refers to the idea that photons, which are particles of light, may have a minuscule amount of mass. This is in contrast to the traditional understanding that photons are massless particles.

What is the significance of photons having a finite mass?

The significance of photons having a finite mass is that it challenges our current understanding of the fundamental properties of light. It also has implications for theories such as Einstein's theory of relativity and the standard model of particle physics.

How does the mass of a photon affect its behavior?

The mass of a photon has a significant impact on its behavior. It affects the speed at which it travels, the distance it can travel before losing energy, and its ability to interact with other particles. A finite mass also means that photons can be affected by gravity, unlike massless particles.

Can photons with a finite mass still travel at the speed of light?

Yes, photons with a finite mass can still travel at the speed of light, as their mass is incredibly small and does not significantly impact their speed. However, they may experience a slight decrease in speed compared to massless photons.

How can we measure the mass of a photon?

Measuring the mass of a photon is a challenging task, as it is incredibly small. One way to determine its mass is through experiments that involve measuring the effects of gravity on light. Another approach is to study the behavior of photons in extreme conditions, such as in particle accelerators.

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