How do photons transfer energy?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the mechanisms of energy transfer by photons, particularly in the context of their journey from the Sun to the Earth. Participants explore the nature of photon interactions, the analogy with sound wave propagation, and the implications of these processes within the framework of physics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about photon-photon interactions and how photons transfer energy without direct interaction, referencing their journey from the Sun to the Earth.
  • Another participant questions the necessity of energy transfer by photons traveling in free space, suggesting that photons do not need to interact with each other to transfer energy to the Earth.
  • A participant challenges the use of the term "induction" in the context of sound wave propagation, indicating a misunderstanding of the analogy being drawn between sound and electromagnetic waves.
  • There is a suggestion that the analogy used may not be appropriate without a correct understanding of the underlying processes involved in sound wave propagation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature of photon interactions and the appropriateness of analogies used to describe energy transfer. The discussion remains unresolved, with no consensus on the validity of the proposed analogies or the mechanisms of photon energy transfer.

Contextual Notes

There are indications of missing assumptions regarding the understanding of quantum electrodynamics and the definitions of terms like "induction." The discussion also highlights the potential for misunderstanding when drawing parallels between different physical phenomena.

Andreea007
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TL;DR
Hi, so my question is how do photons transfer energy from one another if they do not interact?
Hi! So I know about the electron-photon interaction but what about photon-photon interaction? I mean, I do know there is a very small chance for them to interact, but how else do they transfer energy in order to get from Sun to Earth, for example?
When it comes to sound waves I get it, for example, when we beat the drums, the skin of the drum oscillates, causing surrounding air particles to oscillates, and so on and so on, until it receives the eardrum, through induction (mathematical process). But I'm thinking that maybe the same induction process is going on in the electromagnetic wave. I found a definition that says that the energy transfer happens through induction (first affect surrounding particles, then those particles affect surrounding particles, and so on), but how exactly do photons do that? Please, note that I'm a newbie and I'm not very familiar with physics concepts. Thank you in advance!
 
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Andreea007 said:
Summary:: Hi, so my question is how do photons transfer energy from one another if they do not interact?

Hi! So I know about the electron-photon interaction but what about photon-photon interaction? I mean, I do know there is a very small chance for them to interact, but how else do they transfer energy in order to get from Sun to Earth, for example?
When it comes to sound waves I get it, for example, when we beat the drums, the skin of the drum oscillates, causing surrounding air particles to oscillates, and so on and so on, until it receives the eardrum, through induction (mathematical process). But I'm thinking that maybe the same induction process is going on in the electromagnetic wave. I found a definition that says that the energy transfer happens through induction (first affect surrounding particles, then those particles affect surrounding particles, and so on), but how exactly do photons do that? Please, note that I'm a newbie and I'm not very familiar with physics concepts. Thank you in advance!
This is why we require a reference before discussing something like this. It's not clear what you've read, what you've understood about quantum electrodynamics and what you don't understand.

In any case, it's not clear precisely what question you are asking.
 
Andreea007 said:
how else do they transfer energy in order to get from Sun to Earth, for example?
Why do you think any energy has to be "transferred" by a photon traveling in free space? Of course the photons from the Sun transfer energy to the Earth when they reach the Earth, but they don't do that by interacting with other photons.
 
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Andreea007 said:
when we beat the drums, the skin of the drum oscillates, causing surrounding air particles to oscillates, and so on and so on, until it receives the eardrum, through induction (mathematical process).
I have no idea what you mean by "induction" here. Your eardrum oscillates the same way the air carrying the sound waves does.

Andreea007 said:
I'm thinking that maybe the same induction process is going on in the electromagnetic wave.
Before even trying to speculate about such an analogy (and such speculations are really off topic here at PF anyway), you need to first correctly understand how the process on which you are basing the analogy works. From the above, I'm not sure you do. (Note that discussion of how we hear sound really belongs in the Biology forum, not this one, and discussion about how sound waves in air propagate really belongs in the Classical Physics forum, not this one.)
 

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