Mediator of electrostatic repulsion

[rrosenthal]

Is the repulsive force between 2 electrons---(as in an electrostatic situation)---mediated by a photon----?------R Rosenthal

 

[OhYoungLions]

Yes.

 

[rrosenthal]

any idea what wavelength the photon would be that would mediate the electrostatic repulsion----?---randy rosenthal

 

[CAF123]

The mediator here, the photon, is a virtual particle and as such exists for an amount of time allowed by the Hesenberg Uncertainty Principle. Therefore the photon must satisfy, $$ΔE Δt ≥\hbar$$
To find this $ΔE$ requires knowledge of $Δt$, which could be found using the distance between the electrons divided by the speed of light. Then use the above equation to solve for $ΔE$, from which $λ$ can be found using $$ΔE = \frac{hc}{λ}$$