I Is it possible for pure energy to have mass?

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The discussion centers on the concept of whether pure energy can possess mass and form a gravitational entity. It clarifies that energy is not a substance, and the term "pure energy" is largely a science fiction construct. Photons, while having momentum, do not have rest mass, but they are considered a fundamental form of energy. Energy is defined as a property of objects or systems, similar to mass and momentum, and cannot exist independently. The conversation emphasizes that there is no such thing as "pure energy" without association to an object or system.
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When I ask about mass, I am really asking is it remotely possible for pure energy to have mass and possible become so dense it forms a ball with its own gravitational pull. This pull keeps the energy in a ball.
 
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Photon has mass as well as momentum but no rest mass so it can treat it as pure energy.
 
Energy is not a substance. "Pure energy" is a creation of science fiction writers.
 
Vanadium 50 said:
Energy is not a substance. "Pure energy" is a creation of science fiction writers.
So than that makes photons the most basic form of energy or just one of the many types of energy like electromagnetic and kinetic?
 
Energy is a property of an object or system, like momentum, angular momentum, mass, and charge. There is no such thing as "pure energy" not associated with an object or system, just like there is no such thing as "pure momentum" or "pure charge."
 
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A pair of photons that whose momenta are not parallel could be considered to be a system consisting of "pure energy" and nonetheless have a non-zero invariant mass.
 

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