Energy momentum of massless particles

In summary, the concept of energy momentum of massless particles refers to the combined measurement of the energy and momentum of particles that have no rest mass. This is calculated using the equation E=pc and describes the relationship between energy and momentum in massless particles. These particles travel at the speed of light because they have no rest mass and examples include photons, gluons, and gravitons.
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Before electroweak symmetry breaking, there were massless particles. Can these massless particles be seen in terms of energy momentum relation ##E = ##c##p##?
 
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There are still some massless particles today.

E=cp for massless particles, yes.
 
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1. What is the energy momentum of massless particles?

The energy momentum of massless particles refers to the energy and momentum carried by particles that have no mass. This includes particles such as photons, gluons, and gravitons.

2. How is the energy momentum of massless particles different from particles with mass?

The main difference is that massless particles travel at the speed of light, while particles with mass have a slower speed. This means that the energy momentum of massless particles is solely determined by their frequency or wavelength, while particles with mass also have a contribution from their mass.

3. Can massless particles have momentum?

Yes, massless particles can have momentum, even though they have no mass. This is because momentum is a product of mass and velocity, and massless particles have a velocity of c, the speed of light.

4. How is the energy momentum of massless particles measured?

The energy momentum of massless particles is typically measured through their interactions with other particles. For example, the energy of a photon can be measured by observing the effect it has on an electron, and the momentum can be calculated from the change in direction of the electron's path.

5. What is the significance of the energy momentum of massless particles in physics?

The energy momentum of massless particles is important in many areas of physics, including quantum mechanics, relativity, and particle physics. It helps us understand the behavior of massless particles and their interactions with other particles, and plays a crucial role in theories such as the Standard Model and quantum field theory.

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