How Do Photons Carry Electromagnetic Force?

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SUMMARY

Photons are not merely carriers of electromagnetic force; they are the electromagnetic force itself. When charged particles, such as electrons, accelerate, they emit photons, which facilitate the interaction between charges. This interaction can occur even when one particle is stationary, as the moving charge disturbs the electromagnetic field of the stationary charge, resulting in photon emission. The transactional interpretation of quantum theory, as discussed by Richard Feynman, suggests that photons are defined through interactions, not in isolation.

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  • Understanding of electromagnetic fields and forces
  • Familiarity with quantum theory and the transactional interpretation
  • Knowledge of photon behavior in particle interactions
  • Basic principles of charge and energy in physics
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  • Study the transactional interpretation of quantum theory in detail
  • Explore the relationship between electromagnetic fields and photon emission
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I've heard that accelerating charge generates photons. How do the photons create electromagnetic force, how do they differentiate between positive and negative charges, and how would electromagnetic force work in the case of stationary particles?

Are electrons so much more densely charged because they move faster?
 
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No, the accelerating of a charged particle such as an electron does not increase the charge of the electron, it merely increases the energy carried by the electron, as a result it releases this excess energy as photons.

Photons do not create EM force, they are the EM force as it were, when negative charged particles approach each other they exchange photons, therefore giving each accelerating each other away from one another.

And finally Yes charged particles can emit photons when stationary.
 
noblec04 said:
No, the accelerating of a charged particle such as an electron does not increase the charge of the electron, it merely increases the energy carried by the electron, as a result it releases this excess energy as photons.

Photons do not create EM force, they are the EM force as it were, when negative charged particles approach each other they exchange photons, therefore giving each accelerating each other away from one another.

And finally Yes charged particles can emit photons when stationary.

I am surprised about how one resting charged particle emit photons.

Could you give some tips to understand this state?
 
if you are meaning a particle on its own, no other particle anywhere in the universe, then it would not according to the transactional interpretation of quantum theory, and Richard Feynman be able to emit any photons.

If however you are looking at a stationary charge and a charge (both of the same, positive say) that is moving towards the stationary object, it was easier for me to think about it in terms of fields(force fields as it were).
When the moving charge enters the field of the stationary charge, it causes a disturbance in this field, propagating as a photon which passes energy to the stationary charge.
And vice versa between the particles until both charges are out of range of the others field, the stationary charge is no longer stationary but has taken energy from the moving charge which is now moving at a slower rate on a different course.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_field - the introduction here says a bit more

Hope this helps :D
 
noblec04 said:
if you are meaning a particle on its own, no other particle anywhere in the universe, then it would not according to the transactional interpretation of quantum theory, and Richard Feynman be able to emit any photons.

If however you are looking at a stationary charge and a charge (both of the same, positive say) that is moving towards the stationary object, it was easier for me to think about it in terms of fields(force fields as it were).
When the moving charge enters the field of the stationary charge, it causes a disturbance in this field, propagating as a photon which passes energy to the stationary charge.
And vice versa between the particles until both charges are out of range of the others field, the stationary charge is no longer stationary but has taken energy from the moving charge which is now moving at a slower rate on a different course.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_field - the introduction here says a bit more

Hope this helps :D

I see. The fact that the resting charged particle can emit photon depend on the existence of the other moving particle. Could I understand your statement like this?
 
in a system of just those two particles, that is a way of understanding it yeah
 
A photon on its own do not deliver any photons. All photons are defined, and only defined, in their interactions. there is no way I know of to define a photon without that interaction. If there was all discussions about their possible paths etc would be moot. As for how two 'photons' create a new photon?

Ahem..

It's one of those facts of nature :)
Yep.
 

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