Ineracting massless particles

In summary, it is possible for high energy photons to interact and produce a particle + anti-particle pair, which is believed to have occurred after the big bang. There are also direct interactions between massless gluons in QCD. However, photons do not have reference frames like objects with mass do. This topic is often discussed in the relativity forum.
  • #1
taylrl3
61
0
Are there any reactions in that require the interaction of massless particles or am I right in thinking this is impossible? Thanks
 
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  • #2
It is possible for two photons with high enough energy to interact and produce a particle + anti-particle pair. According to big bang theory, this was going on right after the big bang and led to the creation of matter.
 
  • #4
Thanks for the link :-) I'm wondering what happens in the reference frame of the photon when this reaction occurs.
 
  • #5
In QCD, there direct interactions between massless gluons.
 
  • #6
taylrl3 said:
I'm wondering what happens in the reference frame of the photon when this reaction occurs.

Photons don't have reference frames, at least not the kind we're used to. We get threads about "reference frame of a photon" or "photon's point of view" probably every month in the relativity forum.
 
  • #7
jtbell said:
We get threads about "reference frame of a photon" or "photon's point of view" probably every month in the relativity forum.

Yeah, and that jerk Einstein started it all
 

1. What are massless particles?

Massless particles are particles that have no rest mass, meaning they do not possess any mass when they are not moving. They travel at the speed of light and are always in motion, therefore they have no rest mass.

2. Can massless particles interact with matter?

Yes, massless particles can interact with matter through forces such as electromagnetism and gravity. They can also create matter-antimatter pairs through annihilation.

3. How are massless particles created?

Massless particles can be created through various processes, such as the decay of heavier particles, high energy collisions, and through the annihilation of matter-antimatter pairs.

4. What are some examples of massless particles?

Some examples of massless particles include photons (particles of light), gluons (particles that mediate the strong nuclear force), and gravitons (particles that mediate the force of gravity).

5. Why are massless particles important in physics?

Massless particles play a crucial role in understanding the fundamental forces of nature and the behavior of matter. They also help explain the properties of light and the phenomenon of gravity.

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