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scottbekerham
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There is something that I don't understand .A free electron radiates photons in every possible direction as long as it exists so it emits an infinity of photons with Infinite energy ?
LostConjugate said:A free electron does not emit any photons. It requires a potential to accelerate the electron.
I think you are confusing the electrostatic force with a photon which is a permutation in the electrostatic force. It is the measure of energy transferred like if you pull on a rope, but if you just hold the rope you are not emitting an infinite amount of energy.
jjustinn said:I'm still not totally convinced, though -- that electrostatic field, once "established", can still do work on particles (including test particles) that are brought inside of it, and therefore it "contains" energy, which must be quantized, right?
jjustinn said:I'm still not totally convinced, though -- that electrostatic field, once "established", can still do work on particles (including test particles) that are brought inside of it, and therefore it "contains" energy, which must be quantized, right?
I'm sure there's an equally simple answer / analogy, but for the life of me I can't figure it out what it could be.
Drakkith said:No, the fundamental forces of nature do NOT require energy to function. Energy is a measure of the ability to perform work. A proton and an electron bound in a Hydrogen atom do not constantly use energy to stay together. The electromagnetic force from both particles is always there though.
Also, the view that virtual particles mediate forces by exchanging themselves is simply a way to visualize the process of interaction and make the math easier. There is more than one way to interpret interactions and this is simply one of them.
evankiefl said:Why should the field contain energy and not the test particles themselves?
Drakkith said:No, the fundamental forces of nature do NOT require energy to function. Energy is a measure of the ability to perform work. A proton and an electron bound in a Hydrogen atom do not constantly use energy to stay together. The electromagnetic force from both particles is always there though.
Also, the view that virtual particles mediate forces by exchanging themselves is simply a way to visualize the process of interaction and make the math easier. There is more than one way to interpret interactions and this is simply one of them.
Photons radiated by free electrons are electromagnetic waves that are emitted by an electron when it loses energy and changes energy levels. They are also known as bremsstrahlung radiation.
Photons radiated by free electrons are produced when an electron is accelerated or decelerated due to interactions with other particles or fields. This acceleration or deceleration causes the electron to release energy in the form of photons.
The energy of photons radiated by free electrons can vary depending on the energy level of the electron before and after the emission. Generally, the energy of photons radiated by free electrons ranges from a few eV to a few MeV.
Photons radiated by free electrons behave as both particles and waves. They travel in a straight line at the speed of light and exhibit properties such as diffraction and interference. They also have a quantized energy, meaning they can only exist in specific energy levels.
Photons radiated by free electrons have numerous applications in various fields, including medical imaging, industrial X-ray inspection, and particle accelerators. They are also used in research for studying the properties of matter and for creating high-energy light sources.