Electron & Neutron Absorbing Photons: Charge Explained

[GarryS]

Is it because of charge of an electron that it absobs a photon or even a neutron can absorb a photon?

 

[Drakkith]

I guess you could say that. I think it is because all three of those particles interact via the electromagnetic force.

 

[GarryS]

I guess you could say that. I think it is because all three of those particles interact via the electromagnetic force.

How do they actually interact? What's the mechanism involved?

 

[Drakkith]

How do they actually interact? What's the mechanism involved?

The interaction is described using math, but if your looking for some underlying mechanism, something that "really" happens, then you'll be dissapointed, as science can only describe what happens as we observe and measure it. There are a few interpretations however, one of them being the view that a "virtual" particle is exchanged, however mathematically there is little or no difference between the interpretations to my knowledge.

See here for more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_interaction

 

[Meir Achuz]

The neutron couples with photons via its magnetic moment.