How does the EM force transmit charge information?

[Ryan Reed]

If photons are the force carrier of the EM force, and they have no charge, how do they give the information between two charged particles? How would a proton know the difference between a electron and positron?

 

[Mentz114]

The virtual photons will carry opposite momenta ?

 

[Vanadium 50]

"Force carrier" does not mean that the electric force is transmitted by billiard-ball-like photons bouncing back and forth.

 

[Mentz114]

"Force carrier" does not mean that the electric force is transmitted by billiard-ball-like photons bouncing back and forth.

If that is addressed to me then I respectfully admit to already knowing that this is not how the forces are transmitted.

As far as I know the force originates in the interaction term $A^\mu J_\mu$ in the Hamiltonian. The 4-current for a positron is (presumably) different from that of an electron.